Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

The introduction of free schoolbooks for some 940,000 children and young people in primary and post-primary and special schools in the free education scheme from the start of 2025-26 was a really significant progressive decision that was taken some years ago by the then education Minister, Deputy Foley, and has been continued. The Deputy has raised interesting points about the mechanics of the scheme and how it operates with regard to enrolment numbers and textbooks consequent on curricular change. I will raise these issues with the Minister to see if a more flexible and responsive model can be developed. Of course, that could also have implications for schools that lose pupils. Sometimes we have to be cautious about what we wish for.

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