Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to review the book lending scheme for national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33941/12]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to review the book lending scheme for secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33942/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

I am very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office I met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. I have also stressed to them the real need to avoid placing schools and families in a position where textbooks are altered unnecessarily.

The Association has responded positively to my approaches and have agreed a voluntary Code of Practice among their members. The Code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also given assurances to me that they will sell textbooks to schools at substantial discounts so that schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock textbook rental schemes. All these developments are welcome, and I look forward to seeing the members of the Association implement these commitments.

My Department recently published research which shows that there is a high level of book rental schemes in operation at primary school level. The research indicates that 76% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme and I want to encourage this practice across all schools. Results at second level are not as conclusive.

I refer the Deputy to the "Report on Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools and the Allocation of Textbook Grants by the Department of Education and Skills" and the draft "Guidelines on Developing School Textbook Rental Schemes" which I published at the end of May. I believe that these documents will help to inform the debate on the issue. Following receipt of the opinions of the representatives of teachers, principals, school management, parents, students and other on the policy options outlined in the report, I hope to make a decision by the end of the summer so that if there are any changes to the book grant scheme schools will have a year's advance notice.