Written answers

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Department of Education and Skills

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that non-DEIS schools which have a current book-rental scheme funded out of their own resources are not eligible to apply for the new book-rental grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54096/13]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools which had already established a book-rental scheme are excluded from the scheme of financial assistance announced recently; the proposals he has to include all schools in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54210/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 237 together.

The Deputies will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every primary schools has a book rental schemes in operation in the 2014/2015 school year.

This scheme will be confined to primary schools that do not currently operate such a scheme. To extend it to all schools would mean that the funding available to each school would be diluted to such an extent as to have little impact. I wholeheartedly commend schools that have established book rental schemes to date. However, I regret that they will not be eligible to apply for funding under this scheme.

I can confirm to the Deputies that the Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's book rental scheme.

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