Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm when the free schoolbooks scheme for up to Junior Certificate years will become operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30875/24]

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

In March I announced details of the new Junior Cycle free Schoolbooks Scheme, which provides, at a minimum, free schoolbooks and core classroom resources to Junior Cycle students enrolled in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special schools, who have students participating in Junior Cycle programmes, will benefit from this new measure which will become operational in schools from the start of the coming school year, September 2024.

This scheme ensures that parents and guardians will not be asked to buy or rent any schoolbooks or core classroom resources for students in Junior Cycle programmes. Post-primary schools and special schools have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements.

Detailed guidance on the implementation of the scheme for the 2024/25 school year was published on 5 March to allow schools sufficient time to implement the scheme in advance of the start of the school year, September 2024. Funding issued directly to schools on 19 March and was paid based on the number of students enrolled in the school on 30 September 2023. Details of the scheme, including the per capita rate of €309 per student, are provided in the scheme guidance available at .

In recognition of the work required by schools to implement the scheme, my Department also provided an Administrative Support Grant to schools which allows them to employ a person/s to assist with the administration of the scheme. Full details of the Administrative Support Grant are also set out in the scheme guidance for the 2024/25 school year and funding for this grant was paid to schools in May.