Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am amazed that a Labour Party Minister has acknowledged in the House that what he has introduced is unfair. He said in reply to Deputy McConalogue earlier to justify this announcement that there was unfairness prior to the introduction of this scheme because other schools were introducing it. However, this is an opportunity for the Minister to ensure fairness in every school and he can pursue this agenda. Why is he pursuing such a highly discriminatory policy? He is penalising schools that have put in place a much-needed book rental scheme from their own resources and he has also given no recognition to the variety of schemes currently in place. I tabled a parliamentary question and sent a letter to the Minister about a school in my constituency which offers a book rental scheme only for one subject and has done so for only the past two years, but is getting nothing under the new scheme. That is unfair and inequitable and the scheme needs to be revisited.

It was amazing to pick up local newspapers the length and breadth of the country and read that backbench Deputies from both Government parties had heralded this announcement in the budget as a massive success. They said every school in their constituencies would benefit from this cash injection into the book rental scheme. It was a fabrication of truth because, as the Minister acknowledged, only 24% of schools will benefit. He has the opportunity to ensure fairness across the board and I ask him to revisit the scheme to ensure we have a fair and equitable system.

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