Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in view of the widespread concerns of the costs of school text books, he has met with school book publishers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12494/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has no role in the production or publication of school text books. However, my Department does issue guidance to school principals to ensure that the changes to school book lists are kept to a minimum. I do not have any current plans to meet school book publishers in this regard at present, but it is an issue which will be kept under review. My Department issued funding to primary schools in April and will issue funding to 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 are urged to use this funding to establish book rental schemes, as these are the most effective means of lowering costs for all students. Funding is 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.