Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 693: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 45 new books have recently been published by a variety of book suppliers in respect of post-primary education textbooks available for the 2008/2009 school year; his views on whether this is excessive in terms of the pressure it puts on parents and students to purchase these new publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Syllabus planners are conscious of the need to avoid over-frequent changes to textbooks, primarily in order 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.

My Department operates a grant scheme towards the cost of providing school textbooks for pupils from low-income families in schools at first and second-level. Schools are notified of the scheme each year by circular letter.

Principal teachers administer the book grant schemes in schools in a flexible way under the terms of the schemes based on their knowledge of particular circumstances in individual cases. Over €14 million has been provided in the 2008 Estimates for these schemes.