Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a recent direction from the Archdiocese of Dublin that schools should spend public money from her Department’s schoolbook grant on religious texts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29037/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In 2024, over €47 million is allocated to continue implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary school 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 pupils 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. Parents will not be asked to purchase, or to provide, schoolbooks, workbooks, and copybooks.

Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year is published on my Department’s website at and has issued to schools.

The scope of the scheme means that primary and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose schoolbooks and related classroom resources that meet curricular requirements. In the case of special classes in primary schools, they have autonomy to choose resources that meet the learning needs of the pupils.