Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how her Department plans to address Ireland’s lag in school library provision compared to European neighbours and other developed countries; whether there will be a commitment to providing necessary funding in Budget 2025 to support school libraries and qualified librarians beyond the €20 million school library book grant of 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38917/24]

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

'Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood' and five-year implementation plan was published in May 2024 by the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This strategy aims to promote the development of essential literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills. Consideration of the establishment of a national advisory group on school library provision will be taken in line with action 1.3.5 of the Strategy, ‘Explore the potential for an expanded programme of library support services to ELC settings, primary and post primary schools’.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the estimated costing in relation to the provision of libraries in schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.

It should be noted that the public library provides access to a wide range of resources, facilities and activities that aim to support schools in developing children's literacy, numeracy, creativity and communication skills. The development of existing partnerships between schools and libraries provides many benefits for both the schools and for public libraries. The Library Service published ‘The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027’ in July 2023. Under this strategy and the Department’s ‘Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033’, the Department will further enhance the partnership with the Library Service to increase school usages of the resources that are available through the public libraries.

Webinars and the Public Library Resource Guide for Schools provides information for primary and post-primary schools to develop and expand reading and literacy collections within the school setting www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-school. The Public Library Supports for Schools are jointly agreed by the Department of Education and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

A teacher’s card is made available to every teacher in every school, which enables each teacher to borrow items for his/her class. As no doubt the Deputy is aware, library membership is completely free of charge for everyone in every library in the country. Further information on the services to schools can be found at www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-schools. Libraries Ireland also offer a Digital Library Service, and currently anyone with a library card can access the eBooks, Audio books and eLearning Resources.

The Department also issued a grant in 2023 to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people enrolled in all recognised primary schools, including special schools. This grant has been extended, in 2024, to provide free schoolbooks for all Junior Cycle students in the Free Education Scheme. Where any surplus funding remains after all other schoolbooks and related classroom resources costs have been met, a school has the discretion to purchase library books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources for their school.

I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.