Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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126. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books that have been distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56223/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The First 5 My Little Library initiative offered a book bag with books and resources to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September. The children received an invitation to participate in the action through their early learning and care settings or special pre-school.

The objective of this action was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their home and be members of their local library. 60,000 bags that were provided to the libraries, 51,000 bag pickups were reported collected be end October.

The statistic really worth noting is that 20,000 children in the target age group have joined the library since the initiative started and 10,000 children have renewed their membership ensuring they have access to a lifetime of books.

The books included were selected by an appropriate committee of experienced librarians, and books and bags have been procured by the LGMA. Insert resources have been prepared by invited partners to be supplemented at county level including information for parents on transitions to primary school from NEPs. The feedback from parents on the books and resources is so far very positive.

The bags are still available in English and Irish and families can select which language bag they would like.

Extra flexibility was offered to Ukrainian families where the book bag is available to all children newly arrived in Ireland starting primary school.

An evaluation of the initiative is currently underway. Any spare bags will be held by the libraries for future projects.