Vol. 554 No. 5
603 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science his policy on the introduction of a countrywide recycling system for school books, and on the possibility of forwarding such books to interested developing countries for educational use. [16251/02]
My Department is committed to the Governments strategy as outlined in the Environmental Protection Agencys report on the need for development of a domestic processing market for waste of all kinds.
Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, school books are not approved or prescribed by my Department at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. School authorities have been advised that books should be changed only to the extent that is absolutely necessary. Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes, primarily in order to minimise increases in the cost burden for parents. Textbooks have to be changed periodically, however, to enable teachers to keep their own and their students work educationally stimulating and to ensure that content and methodology are kept up to date. It is unavoidable therefore that some books will become obsolete over time. I am satisfied, however, that the problem of disposal of unwanted textbooks is minimised to the greatest possible extent by the policies operated by my Department.
With regard to the suggestion that textbooks no longer required in our schools might be somehow re-used in schools in developing countries, while this does happen to some extent, it should be remembered that, just as in Ireland, each of those sovereign countries decides on its own curricula, which will reflect its individual national culture and other needs. In general, therefore, books designed for Irish schools would not be suitable for schools in another country.
