Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total funding allocated in 2025 to continue the implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary level; the total grant per pupil in 2025; and the number of pupils who will benefit from the scheme this year, in tabular form. [43839/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2025, my Department announced that the free schoolbooks scheme would be extended to students in Senior Cycle years, including Transition Year, in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This brings the total investment for schoolbooks to over €170 million for the 2025/26 school year. This means, for the first time ever, all children and young people enrolled in primary, special and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme will be provided with schoolbooks and core classroom resources.

Book grant funding issued to primary schools in April 2025 so that schools have enough time to implement the scheme in advance of the new school year. My Department has also allocated an administration support grant to schools for the forthcoming school year, based on the size of the school to assist with the additional work required in order to implement the scheme. Payment of the Administration Support Grant issued to primary schools in May 2025.

The Schoolbook Schemes have eliminated the cost to families for all schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks at primary level, including special schools. It continues to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to provide free schoolbooks to all children in the free education system and introduce changes as needed to the operation of this scheme.

The total funding allocated in 2025 to continue the implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary level; the total grant per pupil in 2025; and the number of pupils who will benefit from the scheme this year is set out in tabular form below.