David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 382: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the advice he has for parents with low incomes whose children are not attending DEIS schools and who would normally have benefited under the free books scheme on the way they will purchase school text books for their children in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47455/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 392: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will re-examine the funding of the free books scheme in view of the other competing operational school costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47491/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 392 together.

Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included reductions on the aid for school books scheme which in the case of schools outside of the DEIS scheme will involve savings of approximately €7.5 million on current levels.

Approximately €7 million was made available in 2008 to DEIS schools for the aid for school books scheme and this fund of €7 million will be made available for distribution to schools in the DEIS programme in 2009.

I appreciate that this measure will pose difficulties for other schools outside DEIS. However, many schools operate book rental schemes built up over the years and this combined with increased capitation funding will help to mitigate the impact on schools and parents.

The Education Budget for 2009 has provided for improvements to the overall level of funding for day to day running costs of primary schools which will see funding increase from €167 million in 2008 to almost €190 million in 2009. The Government is committed to making further improvements as resources permit.