Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013
107. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school's eligibility for new funding announced in the budget towards the running of a book rental scheme; the way it will be administered; the options that exist to extend a current book scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54722/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every primary school has a book rental schemes in operation in the 2014/2015 school year. This scheme will be confined to primary schools that do not currently operate such a scheme. To extend it to all schools would mean that the funding available to each school would be diluted to such an extent as to have little impact. I wholeheartedly commend schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, that have established book rental schemes to date. However, I regret that they will not be eligible to apply for funding under this scheme. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's book rental scheme.
