Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the book grant will be made available to low income families in 2011; if the grant will be forwarded to schools in time for distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5501/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department intends to issue funding to primary schools in April and post-primary schools in June to enable them to provide assistance for school books. Details of the funding were notified to schools by circulars 0023/2011 (primary level) and 0024/2011 (post-primary level), which are available on my Department's website.

In these circulars, schools were urged to use this funding to establish book rental schemes, as these are the most effective means of lowering costs for all students.

Funding will be allocated on the following basis:

- €11 per pupil in primary schools;

- €21 per pupil in primary schools within the Delivering Equality in Schools (DEIS) scheme;

- €24 per pupil in post-primary or - €39 per pupil in post-primary schools within the DEIS scheme.

This funding arrangement affords schools the autonomy to utilise funding in the most effective way based on their particular knowledge of their student needs. The previous system required schools to apply each year to my Department for a book grant, which resulted in a significant administrative burden, both for schools and my Department.