Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the extension of the free schoolbooks scheme for secondary students to fee-paying schools, particularly in the Dublin 6 area, where there is a very limited availability of non-fee paying boys secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40185/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.

As you are aware, on the 5th of March this year, I announced details of a new scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme.

Additionally, under Budget 2025 I announced the extension of the scheme to Senior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme which will commence from September 2025.

The funding provided under Budget 2024 and 2025 is specifically to provide free school books to students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Private fee-charging post-primary schools are not in the Free Education Scheme.

Schools in the Free Education Scheme are paid a range of grants, payable on the basis of a school’s enrolment and may also apply for funding towards the cost of capital works.

What differentiates fee charging schools from all other post-primary schools is the capacity to raise funds through mandatory fees, while in receipt of exchequer funding. The fees charged are mandatory in that initial admission to the fee charging school or ongoing participation is contingent on the payment of fees.

Fee-charging post-primary schools are not grant funded in relation to book schemes which are, therefore, a matter for the school’s board of management.