Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give consideration to increasing the funding of €96 per student to schools to cover the cost of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, given that the cost is much greater (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20465/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I recently announced details of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which is a permanent measure and will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in recognised 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 scheme.

Guidance on the operation of the scheme is published and has been made available to all primary schools and special schools. This Guidance was developed as part of my Department’s engagement process with all relevant stakeholders. The Guidance aims to ensure that value for money is achieved. Schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.

In line with the Guidelines, for the 2022/23 school year, schools will receive €96 per pupil which will be paid in line with recognised pupil enrolment on 30 September 2022.

This cost of €96 per pupil was arrived at following analysis of the experience over 3 years of the data from schools involved in the pilot free books scheme in over 100 DEIS primary schools, direct engagement by my officials with a sample of schools and an analysis by my Department of a range of school book lists.

At a minimum the scheme will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all children and young people in recognised primary schools and special schools. It will eliminate the cost of school schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for parents of children and young people enrolled in these schools.

My Department will undertake a full evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.