Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been any further discussion in his Department regarding the possibility of opening up funding to two school book rental schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23285/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 38 together.

In Budget 2013 funding of €5million for three years was provided to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that did not operate such schemes. DEIS schools will receive €150 per child and non-DEIS schools will receive €100 per child in seed capital over the next two years to establish book rental schemes. This will cost approximately €6.7m.

I indicated that following allocation of the initial round of funding, I would re-examine the scheme to see if I could allocate funding to primary schools that already had such schemes. I am pleased to advise the Deputies that the balance of the funding, some €8.3m, will be divided among all primary schools that currently operate book rental schemes in 2015 and 2016. These schools are expected to receive €18 per pupil or €20 per pupil in DEIS schools over those two years. Every primary school will now benefit from the School Book Rental Scheme.