Mr. Matt Ryan:

Senator Moran asked about the roll-out of seed capital at second level in addition to primary level. We had done some work on this matter last year to produce some estimates and costings. We estimated that to have a scheme like that at both primary and post-primary level would cost between €35 million and €45 million over a three year period. We do not have that kind of funding. The €5 million we are getting in 2014 and for the following two years only allows us to do it at primary level. That is the current situation and it is a resource issue.

Deputy Griffin referred to textbooks and the variation in cost between different publishers. While I acknowledge this is the case, the decision as to what textbooks are to be used is done at school level and it is not a diktat from the Department. In essence, the school is free to source its books from whatever publisher it wishes. If a publisher anywhere can provide books of equal value at a much cheaper cost, I suggest that schools should be going there.