Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the timetable for the delivery on the new scheme to provide free books for primary school students (details supplied); the planning work completed to date; the way in which she intends to implement this measure; if she has commenced engagement with the educational partners; if so, the scope of any such engagement; the engagement with the school book sector to date; if so, the scope of such engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57442/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Budget 2023, my Department has secured funding to provide free books to primary school students in recognised primary schools from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks.

The implementation of the measure will build on the existing school book rental scheme, the free school books pilot provided to over one hundred schools in recent years and the planning work has already commenced. Over the coming period my Department will be engaging with the education partners and other stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year.

Guidance on the procurement of books will be developed as part of our further engagement process with schools, parent and management bodies and other stakeholders on this measure, to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils. My Department will consider the information from the 102 schools involved in the free school book pilot when developing the guidance on the procurement of books.

It is planned that funds will be provided to schools to purchase school books and classroom resources. Schools buy books directly from school book suppliers at present as part of the implementation of the school book rental scheme. Ninety-six percent of primary schools participate in book rental schemes.