Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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743. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in respect of the free books scheme that will operate for the 2023-2024 academic year. [13447/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.

My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme.

The guidance has been informed by the engagement with all stakeholders, including schools who have participated in the DEIS pilot. The scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools and they will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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744. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the free books scheme for primary schools, announced as part of Budget 2023. [13448/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.

My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme.

The guidance has been informed by the engagement with all stakeholders, including schools who have participated in the DEIS pilot. The scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools and they will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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745. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the free books scheme will be administered centrally or by individual schools. [13449/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.

My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme.

The guidance has been informed by the engagement with all stakeholders, including schools who have participated in the DEIS pilot. The scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools and they will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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746. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her officials will be engaging directly with suppliers in respect of the free books scheme for the 2023-2024 academic year. [13450/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.

My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and education schoolbook publishers, IBEC and Retail Ireland, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The guidance has been informed by the engagement process with stakeholders. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and on the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme provided in over 100 DEIS primary schools in recent years.

The new scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools. Schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements.

The overall administration of the scheme in each school will be a matter for the school's management. Many schools buy books directly from book suppliers at present as part of the operation of school book rental schemes.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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747. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify who will be handling administration at school level in respect of the free books scheme. [13451/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.

My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme.