Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the eligibility requirements for the book rental scheme with particular reference to the exclusion of schools that had already established their own schemes; if he will take into account the circumstances pertaining to a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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First let me clarify that the Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme.

I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for parents.

At my request, the National Parents' Council surveyed the views of their members in relation to currently operating book rental schemes. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools.

Perhaps most tellingly, the survey has found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. Ensuring that book rental schemes are available to all parents must therefore clearly be our aim.

I understand that it feels unfair to those schools who have invested time and money to establish such schemes, that they now cannot benefit from the additional funding which was secured as part of the Budget. Of course it is unfair, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on many parents.

The parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes needed more support.

With the limited funding available, I believe that targeting this funding - to make sure that every parent in Ireland has access to some level of a book rental scheme - was the greatest good that could be achieved.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and the names of schools in County Cavan that will be grant aided under the new book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3362/14]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and the names of schools in County Monaghan that will be grant aided under the new book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3363/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.

The Deputy 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.

The Department is contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme to advise them of the application process.

The information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.