Catherine Murphy
Question:746. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her officials will be engaging directly with suppliers in respect of the free books scheme for the 2023-2024 academic year. [13450/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (746)
Written answers
Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.
My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and education schoolbook publishers, IBEC and Retail Ireland, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The guidance has been informed by the engagement process with stakeholders. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and on the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme provided in over 100 DEIS primary schools in recent years.
The new scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools. Schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements.
The overall administration of the scheme in each school will be a matter for the school's management. Many schools buy books directly from book suppliers at present as part of the operation of school book rental schemes.