Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the free school book pilot, currently in 102 DEIS primary schools, as resources permit. The free primary school books scheme will benefit up to 540,000 pupils in approximately 3,240 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools.

The implementation of the measure will build on the existing school book rental scheme which is available in some 96% of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over one hundred primary DEIS schools in recent years. Schools buy books directly from school book suppliers at present as part of the implementation of the school book rental scheme. It is currently planned on the basis that funds will be provided directly to schools to purchase school books and related classroom resources.

Initial stakeholder engagements were held in December last and over the coming period my Department will be engaging further with the education partners and other stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year.

Guidance for primary schools on the free schoolbooks measure will be developed. The scheme will seek 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. Schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements. My Department will consider the information from the 102 schools involved in the free school book pilot when developing the guidance.