asked the Minister for Education why free books are not provided for necessitous pupils on rolls in first standard in national schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Book Scheme.
100.
In the first standard no textbooks are required except very simple readers in Irish and English. To cater for the position in relation to second class onwards where more and costlier books are required a very much broadened scheme of grants for free books was introduced in 1968. This is sufficiently wide to cater for all necessitous cases.
Surely the Minister is aware that books in the first standard are as dear as those in the second standard? It is 17s 4d as against 18s 6d.
I am afraid the Deputy is misinformed.
The Minister is misinformed.
I have the list here.
A reader in first standard costs 17s 4d?
I have the list. It does not include pens, pencils, crayons and so on. I will give the list to the Minister.
The Deputy referred to free books. I have already informed the Deputy that the only textbooks required in first standard are simple readers in Irish and in English.
Costing 17s 4d?
I have not got the price.
The Minister has not, but the Deputy has.
The question relates to textbooks.
English reader 3s 7d; English workbook 2s 1d; table book 5d; catechism 9d; catechism workbook 1s 2d; Irish book B 2/-; Irish Book A 1s 9d; writing copies 1/-; sum copy 6d; composition copy 6d; drawing 6d. That list does not include pens, pencils, crayons, chalk. The parents are not accepting the teacher's answer that these facilities are not available except from second class onwards.
I replied to the Deputy in relation to textbooks.
I framed a general question.
I could not imagine a first-class textbook costing 17s 4d.
(Cavan): Surely a catechism is required as well as a reader?
Will the Minister review the position in the light of the information I have given him?
No, because the money available to me will be utilised in the classes in which the textbooks are dearest.
And the Minister does not accept that the books I have called out here are required in the first class.
I do not say they are not required, but I am concerned only with the textbooks necessary.
The total cost is 17s 4d.
That is 1s 2d less than in second class.
I have informed the Deputy what is required in regard to textbooks in the first class. What is needed is simple readers in Irish and in English.
Will the Minister name the books that are needed?
I am calling Question No. 101.
What are the books needed in the first class?
That seems to be a separate question.
It is the same question. I asked the Minister why free books are not provided in the first class in the same way as they are provided in the second class.
My reply is, if I may repeat it, that in the first standard no textbooks are required except simple readers in Irish and in English.
(Cavan): Does the Minister say that a tablebook is not required?
A tablebook is not necessarily required.
(Cavan): In first class?
Not necessarily.
(Cavan): Is a catechism required?
I would have certain doubts about that in the first class.
Am I to take it that the books I read out are not required?
Religious instruction could be given without a textbook to the first class.
(Cavan): Will the Minister issue a directive then to primary schools, that they are not to insist on children in necessitous circumstances purchasing the books mentioned, other than the simple English reader and Irish reader?
I have stated what is necessary and I see no need for such a direction.
The Minister has not stated the cost.
We are getting into discussion now.
But the Minister did not reply to the question and I wish, with your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.