Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that as a result of her Department’s decision to cut funding for primary schools by €16 per pupil, at least one school (details supplied) has recently had to tell parents that essential workbooks will not be available for their children when they return in September 2024; if she intends to reverse without delay the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24437/24]

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

In 2024 over €47 million is allocated to continue implementation of the free schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8^th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to all pupils enrolled in recognised primary and special schools. More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme.

Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.

As the scheme is now implemented in every recognised primary and special school it is expected that schools have used the funding provided in the 2023/24 school year to purchase stocks of schoolbooks and other classroom resources. Many of these items are now available to schools for reuse in the 2024/25 school year and in future school years. The funding allocated to the scheme in the 2024/25 school year takes account of this.

Under the scheme for the 2024/25 school year schools have received €80 per pupil. The grant is calculated based on validated September 2023 enrolment figures. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have received funding at the Junior Cycle rate of €309 per student, as set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme, in respect of these students.

As was the position prior to the free primary schoolbook scheme, schools continue to have the autonomy to choose books and resources that meet curricular requirements and the needs of their own school. Schools will vary in their requirements each year. The main aim of the scheme is to eliminate the costs of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for parents of children and young people attending recognised primary and special schools.

The guidance clearly advises schools that parents/guardians will not be asked to purchase or to make a contribution to the school towards the cost of schoolbooks, workbooks or copybooks. These items, will be provided by the school with the funding provided. If parents are asked to purchase schoolbooks, workbooks or copybooks in preparation for the start of the 2024/25 school year they can contact my Department, via primaryschoolbooks@education.gov.ie where they will be in a position to follow up with the school as necessary.

As part of the on-going evaluation of the scheme, all schools will be asked to provide data on their expenditure in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.