Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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405. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the details on the way the free books to primary schools scheme will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48611/22]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if measures will be put in place under the free schoolbooks scheme for primary schools to protect small businesses across the country that are already supplying books to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48613/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.

Back-to-school costs have always been a burden for families and free books for primary children will be a huge step in helping families. From September 2023 new funding of €47 million will bring total investment in free school books for primary schools to over €50 million.

My Department will be engaging with the education partners on how best to roll out this funding to schools. In general, the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and resources, if any, to use in schools are taken at school level. Schools are already familiar with sourcing school books and other materials in the context of the existing school book rental schemes in place in almost all primary schools.