Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important subject for the Topical Issue Debate.

This is the second year in a row in which parents are facing a school year having to buy unnecessary and expensive new editions of textbooks, despite repeated promises from the Minister that he would prioritise this issue. The Minister announced this time last year that he had received a commitment from eight book publishers that they would sign up to a code of practice on revised editions. It was promised that there would be no new editions produced unless there had been significant changes to the curriculum.

Implementation of the code of practice means there will be no revisions to existing textbooks for four years unless there are changes required because of curriculum or examinations changes. Old editions are to be kept in print for two years, unless annual sales fall below 500 copies. This means, in future, a new edition of a textbook will be available for a minimum of six years. Publishers also confirmed that revisions to textbooks will be available online. Why has the code not been adhered to? Since the meeting in October 2011, has the Minister examined this issue, and has he made further changes?

This year, parents are again under considerable financial strain as they must buy new editions despite there being only minor changes to the textbooks. A number of constituents contacted me on this issue, and they are downright worried and scared about the cost of school books for the coming year. In some cases, it is almost impossible to see what the changes are in the revised editions. The book publishers in question are failing to abide by the code of practice agreed to last year. The Minister must take action on this issue. While book rental schemes are very important and it is right that publishers offer discounts to schools that buy in bulk under the schemes, we still need to stop publishers from getting away with bringing out unnecessary new editions of textbooks each year.

In February, the Minister for Education and Skills answered a parliamentary question on the book rental and loan schemes from our education spokesperson, Deputy Brendan Smith. I welcome these schemes, but this is not good enough. We need to go further and ensure the publishers do not get away with publishing revised editions when there is clearly no change in these books.

What are the views of the Minister of State on the introduction of pilot schemes within schools for the use of Android tablets as an alternative to traditional books? As we are moving increasingly to a digital age and the Government has highlighted the importance of innovation and IT, what measures has the Minister brought in to streamline this method, and in comparison with cost and cost-effectiveness, is this the way forward over traditional types of learning?

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Topical Issue Debate matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Deputy Kirk for raising the matter and welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on it.

The Minister is conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Textbooks are an important way in which students can be supported in their learning and the Minister knows the range and quality of textbooks has increased in recent years.

Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn has attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office, he met members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. He also stressed to them the real need to avoid placing schools and families in a position where textbooks are altered unnecessarily.

The association responded positively to the Minister's approaches and agreed a voluntary code of practice among its members. The code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also given assurances that they will sell textbooks to schools at substantial discounts in order that schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock textbook rental schemes.

All these developments are welcome, and the Minister looks forward to seeing the members of the association implement these commitments. My Department has not received any complaint that would suggest that the code is not being implemented, but if the Deputy has evidence to show the code is being breached, I would ask him to provide me with it and I will take it up directly with the Irish Education Publishers' Association.

Recently published research by my Department shows that there is a high level of book rental schemes in operation at primary school level. The research indicates that 76% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme and I encourage this practice across all schools in the education landscape. Results at second level are not as conclusive. Since his appointment, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, has also engaged with the National Parents Council, at both primary and post-primary levels, and with other organisations such as Barnardos and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to ensure textbook costs to students and their families are kept to a minimum.

I refer the Deputy to the report on textbook rental schemes in schools and the allocation of textbook grants by the Department of Education and Skills, and the draft guidelines on developing school textbook rental schemes which the Minister published on 28 May last. These documents will help to inform the debate on the issue. Following receipt of the opinions of the representatives of teachers, principals, school management, parents, students and others on the policy options outlined in the report, the Minister hopes to make a decision by the end of the summer so that if there are any changes to the book grant scheme, schools will have a year's advance notice.

On the final point raised by Deputy Kirk on the availability of the textbooks on digital tablets in schools, significant work is ongoing in certain schools in furthering that particular aim. There are also discussions ongoing between publishers and the Department. Indeed, publishers are also having their own discussions and negotiations with tablet suppliers and others as to how that could be rolled out throughout the country. A significant amount of the movement on this must come from the publishers and the tablet suppliers, but the Department would be anxious to facilitate that process in any way it can.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. If I might respond to his invitation, I draw his attention to an area which needs examination. On one of the radio programmes yesterday, there was an animated discussion about the home economics textbook for post-primary for the coming year and the fact a new textbook was produced. A number of parents were certainly exercised about it and, at a minimum, it bears examination to see where the facts of the matter lie.

I exhort the Minister of State to ensure the Department and the Minister keep an eye on what is a vital area. There are many parents for whom, because of mortgage demands and personal commitments here and there, the cost of schoolbooks is a significant burden at a particular time of the year. Of course, it is not easy to spread it out over the years. Clearly, the number of initiatives that have been brought forward will help in their own way to alleviate the matter. We need to do everything possible to alleviate the financial pressure on hard-pressed families to ensure the best education is available for their young people.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy the Minister will continue to impress upon the publishers the need to reduce textbook costs overall. As I stated, they committed to the code of practice. It is the Minister's intention they will fully implement that code of practice. My Department will publish guidelines on textbook rental schemes once the period of consultation is complete, and that is expected to happen in the coming months. I agree with the Deputy it is unfair for publishers to continue to place what we all agree is an unnecessary burden on parents who are significantly burdened, and anything we can do to prevent that from happening we most certainly will do.