Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to revise the number of books that children use in school on a daily basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18322/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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While my Department prescribes curricula and syllabuses for implementation in schools it does not endorse any textbooks for use in schools. It is a matter for individual schools to select the resources and textbooks available to support their implementation of the curricula or syllabuses that the Department has prescribed.

The decision to use tablets or similar devices is a matter for the Board of Management of a school. Advice on the adoption of tablets in schools is available on the 'PDST-Technology in Education' website which covers areas such as what tablets can offer a school, educational considerations, purchasing considerations and software.

More generally, as part of the new Digital Strategy for Schools, my Department will provide advice on ICT equipment and digital learning tools that are best-suited to support learning and teaching in schools. €210m will be allocated over the period of the Strategy to fund equipment investment by schools.