Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issue of costs of school books and school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30792/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme, operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides support for eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. Eligibility for the Back to School Allowance is determined and administered by that Department and is therefore primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

Decisions regarding each school's policy in relation to school uniforms are dealt with at local school level. My Department recommends that the formulation of such a school policy should allow for prior consultation with teachers, parents and pupils where appropriate and enable any concerns about the issue of cost to be raised and considered. I would encourage schools to consider where possible the use of generic uniforms or any other measures that can reduce the cost for parents of school uniforms.

I am very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office I met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. I have also stressed to them the real need to avoid placing schools and families in a position where textbooks are altered unnecessarily.

The Association has responded positively to my approaches and have agreed a voluntary Code of Practice among their members. The Code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also given assurances to me that they will sell textbooks to schools at substantial discounts so that schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock textbook rental schemes. All these developments are welcome, and I look forward to seeing the members of the Association implement these commitments.

My Department recently published research which shows that there is a high level of book rental schemes in operation at primary school level. The research indicates that 76% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme and I want to encourage this practice across all schools. Results at second level are not as conclusive.

I refer the Deputy to the "Report on Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools and the Allocation of Textbook Grants by the Department of Education and Skills" and the draft "Guidelines on Developing School Textbook Rental Schemes" which I published at the end of May. I believe that these documents will help to inform the debate on the issue. Following receipt of the opinions of the representatives of teachers, principals, school management, parents, students and other on the policy options outlined in the report, I hope to make a decision by the end of the summer so that if there are any changes to the book grant scheme schools will have a year's advance notice.