Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
942. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of ensuring that each primary and secondary school has a school library, a school librarian, and access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1048. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the progress being made to ensure that all primary and post primary schools have a school library, school librarian and full access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 942 and 1048 together.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2023.
The estimated costing in relation to the provision of libraries in approximately 3,300 primary and 730 post-primary schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc.. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
Under the Programme for Government my Department was tasked with the development of a successor Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. The strategy will be informed by robust research to include consideration of national and international practice, by extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation. It is intended that the new strategy would be published in 2023 and will run for ten years. This strategy will set the vision for the coming 10 years with recommendations/ actions to improve literacy and numeracy levels from early years to post-primary level.
