Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to eliminate workbooks in their present format whereby students have to write the answers to be replaced by the inclusion of questions in the text book, in the interests of eliminating waste and to promote reuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38517/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, my Department does not approve or prescribe school books-workbooks at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level.

The publication and sale of school books-workbooks are in the hands of independent commercial enterprises and it is not open to me to compel publishing companies to produce their books in a particular format. Notwithstanding that, my Department has advised school authorities that books should be changed only to the extent that is absolutely necessary as we are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes, primarily in order to minimise the cost burden for parents. However, it is recognised that books have to be changed periodically to ensure that content and methodology are kept up to date.