Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
190 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the prices charged for school books and his further views that prices could be reduced in light of the apparent disparity between the prices of these books — in view of the massive prints run relating to them — and similar quality publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7772/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe costs of school books are determined on a commercial basis by the educational publishers who commission them. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second-level, mainly in the case of language subjects, decisions on which textbooks to use in first and second-level schools are taken at school level. Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes to textbooks, primarily in order to minimise increases in the cost burden for parents. However, textbooks have to be changed periodically to enable teachers to keep their students' work educationally stimulating and to ensure that content and methodology are kept up to date. School authorities have been advised that books should be changed only to the extent that is absolutely necessary. In addition, my Department has consistently encouraged schools to put in place book rental schemes as the most effective means of lowering costs for all parents. A number of web-based school book exchange schemes are also in operation.
I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department intends to issue funding to primary schools in April and post-primary schools in June to enable them to provide assistance for school books. Details of the funding were notified to schools by circulars 0023/2011 (primary level) and 0024/2011 (post-primary level), which are available on my Department's website. In these circulars, schools were urged to use this funding to establish book rental schemes, as these are the most effective means of lowering costs for all students.
Funding will be allocated on the following basis:
€11 per pupil in primary schools;
€21 per pupil in primary schools within the Delivering Equality in Schools (DEIS) scheme;
€24 per pupil in post-primary or
€39 per pupil in post-primary schools within the DEIS scheme.
This funding arrangement affords schools the autonomy to utilise funding in the most effective way based on their particular knowledge of their student needs. The previous system required schools to apply each year to my Department for a book grant, which resulted in a significant administrative burden, both for schools and my Department.
