Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on providing additional support, from the budget for 2015 or from this year's departmental budget - should the State's financial position improve to the extent that additional resources may be found - for the book rental schemes already in operation in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16451/14]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the light of the negotiations that will take place on the budget for 2015, does the Minister envisage seeking additional resources for book rental schemes in schools in which such schemes are already in operation?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual for all primary schools and this grant can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. The National Parents Council - Primary has surveyed its members on book rental schemes currently in operation. The survey has found that they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, that the cost per child is under €40 per year in the majority of schools and that 93% of parents believe book rental schemes help with the cost of educating a child. A sum of €5 million has been made available this year to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. It is my aim to ensure every primary school in the country will have a book rental scheme. If the economic situation improves and I obtain additional resources, the option of extending the grant to other school is one of the possibilities I will consider.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I also thank him and the Government for making €5 million available this year for the establishment of new schemes. I was contacted by the principal of Scoil Shéamais Naofa in Bearna who informed me that it had had a partial book rental scheme in place for the past two years. The scheme cannot be extended to the entire school as a result of issues relating to funding. It is welcome that the Minister is committed to extending the grant if the necessary resources become available.