Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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653. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider in the budget for 2018 increasing funding for the school book rental scheme by €15 million; if he will implement the recommendation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection made in 2013 to introduce a five year template for the delivery of an entirely free school book scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the recommendations on school costs contained in the Joint Oireachtas Report  that was published in 2013 and I wish to make clear that I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents. 

School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents.  My Department supports the operation of book rental schemes through the funding provided under its school books grant scheme.  Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of €16 million annually to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. The arrangements in relation to this scheme are set out in Circular 0046/2013 which is published on my Department's website at .

In addition, €15.7 million seed capital was provided over three years to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools.

The most recent figures available indicate that 94% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme. 

One of the actions as part of the Action Plan for Education is to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents by increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce/eliminate school book costs for parents as resources permit. 

It was not possible to provide additional funding in Budget 2017 in relation to book rental schemes due to the many competing demands for the available funding.  This commitment remains a priority for me to address as soon as possible during the lifetime of the Action Plan. However, it is important to note that there are limited funds available in Budget 2018 to meet a wide range of needs across all areas of Government. 

Furthermore, my Department has published a circular to school authorities and ETBs regarding measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the costs which include the provision of a book rental scheme. The circular can be accessed on my Department's website at .