Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to repeat the last part of her answer and outline exactly what is happening after the Easter break. That is relatively late in the school year for some primary schools.

I agree with a lot of what she said. She certainly will not find me saying that this is a bad idea. We have been talking about it for long enough and it is a good idea. It will reduce the burden on parents and level the playing field to a certain extent. A lot more needs to be done to reduce the costs for parents in respect of voluntary contributions and so on, but free school books is a good idea and I would love to see it extended to secondary schools.

The last time we discussed this, we were back and forth about the education partners and I am glad that the Minister is now engaging with publishers and booksellers, which is important. In the response I received to a written question, it seems that this programme will build on the book rental scheme and is currently planned on the basis that funds will be provided directly to schools to purchase schoolbooks and related classroom resources. That is the way it will be rolled out. Schools are going to get cash and are going to buy the books from their local bookshop. Schools are asking me when they are going to get the payment schedule. In a primary school with 700 children, for example, there is a fair bit of administration involved.

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