Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered alternative measures to reduce school book costs via businesses such as a company (details supplied) or other practical methods that would reduce costs for parents. [41482/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of textbooks in the school. Individual schools should adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books in their classes.

In relation to textbook costs an agreement was reached with the Irish Educational Publisher’s Association which resulted in the agreement of a Code of Practice.  The Code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years.  The publishers have also given assurances that they will sell textbooks to schools at discounts so that schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock book rental schemes.

School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. Circa. 95% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme. 

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 €16million annually to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.  In addition €15.7 million seed capital was provided over three years to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools.

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. 

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 .