Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has circulated any memos or advice, or both, to primary and secondary schools in respect of the way in which uniform and book costs can be reduced. [49215/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school.

Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and resources to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.

Policy on school uniforms is a matter for individual schools and Boards of Management.

My Department’s Circular 0032/2017, was issued to the Boards of Management of all recognised primary and post-primary schools and to the Chief Executives of the Education and Training Boards. This Circular sets out the principles of cost-effective practice to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of returning to school.

Under these measures, schools should select school uniform items which are generic and can be purchased from an array of retailers. Only "iron on" or "sew on" crests should be used. Additionally, schools should consider Book Rental schemes and phase out single-use workbooks.

Schools should also consult with parents as to their views on how to reduce costs.

As part of Budget 2023, I have announced new funding of €47 million for school books for all children in primary school, which will bring total investment in free school books at primary school level to over €50 million. This ground-breaking new provision will significantly reduce the burden on families. This follows the free school book pilot scheme which has operated in 102 DEIS primary schools since September 2020 and is a commitment of the Programme for Government.

The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann. When enacted, it will improve how schools engage with students and their parents by requiring each school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities, including school costs. This will help ensure that the various views of students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools.