Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 5th March I announced details of a new ground-breaking scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. More than 212,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools, will benefit from the new scheme.

The investment of €68 million in 2024 significantly increases the funding that is currently provided for schoolbooks and introduces a free schoolbooks scheme to Junior Cycle years in all post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. It reinforces the Government’s commitment to expand the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.

This scheme will ensure that parents and guardians of students enrolled in Junior Cycle years in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme will not be asked to buy or rent any schoolbooks for the 2024/25 school year. This is a permanent measure and will ease some of the financial burden facing families with back-to-school costs.

The term ‘schoolbooks’ includes all relevant textbooks, including ebooks, and workbooks identified by schools as necessary for completion of the curriculum for each subject.

With the exception of post-primary schools that use teacher generated content and resources in place of schoolbooks, funding under the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme does not extend to including the purchase of digital devices by schools. However, schools may use the funding for digital media support, which relates to teaching and learning within curricular requirements.

Decisions regarding the use of digital technology, such as ebooks, in schools is a matter for the board of management/ETB of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents/guardians when planning for the introduction of digital technologies, with cost and other implications being fully considered.

The objective of the new scheme is about ensuring every child and young person enrolled in Junior Cycle years in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme have the resources required to access education and easing the financial burdens surrounding the back-to-school costs, which can be a cause of financial difficulty for many families each year.

The Department has published guidance for schools and information for parents on how the new scheme will operate. www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes