10/01/2014

€15m To Fund School Book Rental Schemes

€15m is to be made available over three years to primary schools that do not currently operate book rental schemes.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has revealed plans to ensure every primary school in Ireland has one in operation.

In October, the Department of Education and Skills asked all schools whether they operated a book rental scheme. Over 80% said they did have such a scheme in operation.

Speaking at Presentation Primary School in Warrenmount, Dublin 8, the Minister said: "I am delighted to see that so many of our primary schools have taken the initiative to establish book rental schemes. They are already helping parents to drive down the cost of books.

"The funds that I have secured will now be directed towards those schools who have not yet set up such schemes so that all parents, no matter where their children go to school, have an opportunity to reduce the costs of going to school."

It is expected that qualifying DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools will receive €150 per child over three years, while non-DEIS schools will receive €100 per child.

The Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be used to update or expand existing book rental schemes.

(IT/JP)

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