Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will support the exchange of school books as outlined by the not for profit company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41334/10]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The acquisition of books, whether through second-hand purchase, as in the website to which the Deputy refers, or through a school rental scheme, is a matter for parents. However, I welcome any initiative which provides an opportunity for parents and students to acquire books, or dispose of unwanted books, in an efficient manner which reduces costs to parents. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, decisions on which textbooks to use in first and second level schools are taken at school level. There are no plans to regulate this area.

Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes to textbooks, primarily to minimise increases in the cost burden for parents. However, textbooks have to be changed periodically to enable teachers to keep their students' work educationally stimulating and to ensure that content and methodology are kept up to date. School authorities have been advised that books should be changed only to the extent that is absolutely necessary.

In accordance with the renewed programme for Government, my Department issued funding to schools in June to enable them to provide assistance for school books. Details of the funding were notified to schools by circulars 41/2010 for second level and 43/2010 for first level, which are available on my Department's website. In these circulars, schools were urged to use this funding to establish book rental schemes, as these are the most effective means of lowering costs for all students.

In total, €14.6 million issued to schools. Funding was allocated as follows: €11 per pupil in primary schools; €21 per pupil in primary schools within the Delivering Equality in Schools or DEIS scheme; €24 per pupil in post primary; and €39 per pupil in post primary schools within the DEIS scheme. This funding arrangement affords schools the autonomy to utilise funding in the most effective way based on their particular knowledge of their student needs. The previous system required schools to apply each year to my Department for a book grant, which resulted in a significant administrative burden for schools and the Department. The new funding mechanism is part of a process of moving to a more streamlined system where, instead of several specific grants, schools, which are best placed to know the needs of their pupils, receive one per capita grant that they can assign according to the priorities of the school.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I welcome the fact she will, as I understand it from her response, look at the www.schoolbookexchange.ie website, which was a service used by 17,000 people in the past year and is, I understand, a not for profit organisation. Will the Minister of State analyse how the Department could assist with the running costs of this operation?

Given modern technology, we need to move into a new era in regard to school books. It is about time the publishers considered online books. In some states of the USA, school books are online and free to view and one would only pay to print out the workbook. The cost of school books is enormous, particularly with so many people on reducing incomes or unemployed. Will the Minister of State consider the provision by, first, the publishers and, second, by not for profit organisations, or perhaps by a group of teachers or the like, of online workbooks in particular? I understand that changes to workbooks cause the most problems.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Department is interested in finding new ways of supporting schools, parents and children in the new digital economy. In my own constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, the Kilkenny Outreach Centre is doing tremendous work with mobile telephone applications for children. There is no question that the website to which the Deputy referred enjoys a significant level of traffic and anything that eases the burden on parents is to be welcomed. As a former academic bookseller, I am up to speed in this area.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Was the Minister of State making a profit?

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Booksellers also face problems where schools change books at a rapid pace. However, there is a greater focus on the part of schools on changing books only where it is necessary to do so. Workbooks are being streamlined and some textbooks contain workbook pages, which decrease the expense for parents. I am happy to consider anything, including the Internet, that can cut costs and help parents and schools. Regarding the Deputy's question on America, it is my understanding that some states fund the purchase of books. We are not yet at that stage in Ireland but the Department would be happy to fast-track modern approaches.