Mr. Hubert Loftus:

Deputy McConalogue raised the issue of the minor works grant. A total of €28 million will issue to primary schools in the coming weeks. That is the same level of funding as issued previously. The make-up of that grant is a standard base amount of around €5,500 and a per-capita amount on top of that for each pupil, with a minimum threshold for those schools that have fewer than 60 pupils. It is the same as previous years.

On the question of voluntary contributions, we said in our statement that it is not our policy and we do not have plans to stop voluntary contributions, but the Department policy is very clear that voluntary contributions are, as they state, voluntary. We do not have specific data in the Department on the levels of voluntary contributions. I know that public surveys have been conducted. I know the National Parents' Council in its submission today stated that 65% of parents are asked for a voluntary contribution and 35% of parents are not asked for a voluntary contribution.

Deputy O'Brien asked that we clarify the schoolbook rental scheme. I will ask my colleague Mr. Ryan to deal with that.