Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department carried out any research on the impact and cost to independent book sellers of her plans to change the school book purchasing schemes under the new free school book scheme regarding the number of book shops that are likely to close and the number of jobs that will be lost; if she will consider a voucher scheme for the buying of schools in order that small independent book shops will not close; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14650/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it has been brought to her attention that the delayed purchasing system under the new free school book scheme impacts on publishers not having the finance to fund the next print edition of school books, resulting in a possible delay on school books being available in September for the 2023-2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14651/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the potential negative impacts faced by bookshops in small towns as a result of the currently formulated free schoolbooks scheme; the assurances that she can provide that local bookshops will not be cut out of the new system in favour of large companies; and if there will be parity of opportunity for these small bookshops. [14656/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is willing to amend the guidelines pertaining to the free schoolbooks scheme in light of feedback from school leaders and other school book stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14657/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359, 360, 362 and 363 together.

Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in primary schools and special schools. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure. This scheme will ensure that parents and guardians will not be asked to buy or rent any school books, workbooks or copy books from the 2023/24 school year.

The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books currently provided to all recognised primary schools in the country.

The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme, which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools, and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.

Detailed Guidance on the implementation of the scheme is published and has been made available to primary schools and special schools to ensure schools have sufficient time to implement the new scheme in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year. The Guidance has been informed by the engagements with relevant stakeholders.

My Department engaged with all relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will operate. These included: primary school management bodies, unions, the National Parents Council Primary, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, IBEC, Retail Ireland, the Small Firms Association, Barnardos and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. My Department also engaged with a number of schools, including some of the primary schools participating in the DEIS pilot free book scheme, to learn of their first-hand experience of operating a book rental scheme.

My Department has considered the voucher scheme referenced by the Deputy. However, it was not considered a viable option to deliver on the objectives of the scheme.

The grant under the free primary schoolbook scheme will issue to each recognised primary school in April. In the case of primary schools managed by ETBs, the funding will issue directly to the relevant ETB.

Schools are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. Primary schools and special schools 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 and special schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils. Schools are already familiar with purchasing books from local suppliers for their existing book rental schemes and adhering to public procurement requirements.

My Department will continue to consider the relevant public procurement supports that could help underpin this measure in future years. This will be informed by the evaluation of the first year of the scheme.

In recognition of the work required in schools associated with implementing this scheme, my Department has put in place an administrative support grant. The administration support grant will be paid separately to the schoolbook grant and will issue to all primary schools and special schools.

A full evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme will be undertaken in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.