Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020
201. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a pilot free book scheme will go ahead in 102 DEIS schools in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19521/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdditional funding of €1million provided under Budget 2020 was allocated to 102 Primary DEIS schools for a new pilot programme for the 2020/21 school year and was announced in January of this year. https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2020-press-releases/PR20-01-09.html
The aim of this pilot is to provide free school books for students in the schools involved, and to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents. It will run for a period of one year and its effectiveness and impact will be monitored and evaluated before any decision is made as regards its possible extension or continuation. Under Circular 46/2013, DEIS schools receive a book grant of €21 per student. This pilot will provide an additional €64 per student to increase the overall book grant rate to €85 per student enrolled in the school. This additional funding issued to schools in May 2020. Schools were selected based on their levels of concentrated disadvantage using the data available and represent both urban and rural schools
A list of the 102 participating schools is published on the Department Of Education and Skills website and can be found at this link https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/school-book-pilot-scheme-2020.pdf
My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools.
