Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McMahon for his presentation. Approximately 18 months ago I requested that he would appear before the committee and I am delighted to see him present. I was not a member of the previous committee. I have sat in a schoolroom with him and seen the entire operation at first hand. I am really disappointed that the Department of Education and Skills has taken an individual on secondment from a major multinational company to advise the Department on the way forward on issues such as this. There is a huge conflict of interest given the company for which that individual works. There is a lack of foresight in not picking up on an operation such as that of Schoolbag. I know some of the schools in which it is involved and some in County Kildare are quite positive towards it.

What are Mr. McMahon's views of e-books which would be part and parcel of the ongoing learning process? E-books are more expensive than printed books because the VAT rate and EU-wide VAT rate. We cannot solve the problem in Ireland - it can only be done at EU level. What is the best way to reduce the costs in future?

On Deputy Brendan Ryan's point on availability, I note that all first year students in Piper's Hill school in Naas are using tablet devices. The bulk of the costs associated with these devices arises from the use of e-books as opposed to hardware. Funds are raised locally to ensure every student in first year at the school who come from all socioeconomic backgrounds has an iPad. Those who visited the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition may have encountered research undertaken by students from a school in Celbridge on the impact of carrying heavy books in schoolbags in terms of back pain and injury. I cannot understand the reason officials in the Department of Education and Skills will not get their heads out of their arses and accept that technology is the way forward. The joint committee should invite departmental officials before us to answer questions on the wisdom of the advice they are receiving.