It will not be acceptable for schools to ask parents for voluntary contributions to cover school books when the new free book programme is rolled out, Education Minister Norma Foley has said.
She made the comments as she announced that each school will be given €96 per child to eliminate the cost of school books in primary schools and special schools.
More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme. Free school books, workbooks and copybooks will be provided by schools to students.
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The cost of the programme will be €50m per year.
Minister Foley insisted that €96 per child will be enough and schools cannot ask parents for voluntary contributions to cover book costs.
"It will not be acceptable to ask any parents for any additional funding for the school book scheme," she said.
“We have clear data and analysis over three years of the scheme running in over 100 deis schools where €85 per child was provided there and that was adequate.
“We've actually added to that in terms of making €96 available. We have every confidence that will be sufficient.
“If an individual school had an individual issue, I would ask them to contact the department and deal directly with the Department.”
She continued: By their nature, contributions are voluntary. That's what they are. They're voluntary.
“It is significant funding. A 100-people school will have €10,000 available to them for school books.
“The needs of the child in Junior Infants is different to the needs of children in sixth class.
“There is no question that parents should be asked to add any additionality to the funding that is being provided by the Department.”
Schools will be given a grant based on the size of the school to cover the cost of books, workbooks and copies.
There will be no need for parents to buy or rent the items. The schoolbooks will remain the property of the school and must be returned at the end of the year.
Schools will be provided with additional administrative support to allow them to roll out the programme.
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