Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools will receive guidelines and funding for the primary schoolbook scheme, as booksellers need to be closely involved in the ordering process and feel that the timeline is very tight, and are asking that invoices are paid by primary schools in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11898/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you for your query to the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD in relation to the free schoolbooks scheme for primary schools.

As you are aware additional funding has been allocated to provide free books to primary school pupils in primary schools from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks, in primary schools.

The Department commenced engagement with relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will operate at the end of 2022. The Department will be engaging further in the coming weeks with the education partners and other stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year. It is recognised that work on this scheme will need to commence in schools after the Easter break.

Detailed guidance on the measure is being developed as part of the engagement process with schools, management bodies and other stakeholders. 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.

It is important to note that schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements.

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