Norma Foley (Minister for Education) has announced details of the second year of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides free school books to children in primary schools and special schools.
More than 563,000 pupils in approximately 3,230 primary schools, (including over 130 special schools) will continue to benefit from this scheme.
This initiative will continue to include workbooks and copies for all children and young people in primary and special schools. The scheme aims to ease the financial burden facing families during back-to-school time.
Schools also receive an Administration Support Grant to help to implement the scheme and to help with the extra administration taken on by the schools.
The investment of over €47 million will continue to ensure that parents and guardians won’t be asked to buy or rent any schoolbooks, workbooks or copies.
Minister Foley said:
“I am delighted to announce details of the funding package of over €47 million secured in 2024 to further embed this worthwhile scheme into our primary school system.
“Earlier this year I announced details of a free Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme and this brings the total investment in the free school books schemes in 2024 to over €115 million. This significantly increases the funding for schoolbooks previously provided to all recognised primary schools and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme in the country.
“The funding provided for primary schoolbooks in 2024 will continue to ease some of the financial burden facing families with the back-to-school costs.
“The scheme will provide, at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils enrolled in primary and special schools in the 2024/25 school year.
“I am committed to ensuring that schools will have sufficient support to implement this scheme. Following a review of year 1 of the scheme I am pleased to announce that the Administration support grant provided to schools will remain in place for the 2024/2025 year.
“My Department has also enhanced the support for schools by increasing the days allocated to larger schools, to take account of additional work needed.
Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Hildegarde Naughton TD said:
“I am delighted to see the continuation of this Programme for Government commitment, with free schoolbooks for all pupils in primary and special schools. This initiative will help reduce the impact of the rising cost of living and will provide significant support to parents of children with special educational needs attending mainstream primary classes, special classes in primary schools or special schools.
“I also welcome the decision of the Minister earlier this year to pay the Junior Cycle per capita rate to students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes in special schools.
“I am particularly pleased to see the flexibility of the scheme maintained for the 2024/25 school year to ensure it supports the teaching and learning of children with special educational needs. This permits schools to use funding to purchase related classroom resources to meet the learning needs of the pupils in their class once the cost of providing appropriate schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks is met.
“This flexibility is especially important for pupils with special educational needs attending mainstream classes in primary schools and over 19,000 children and young people attending special classes in primary schools and special schools.”
Scheme Details:
- Schoolbooks, workbooks and copies will be provided directly to all pupils by schools.
- There is no need parents or guardians to buy or rent these.
- Schools will be provided with funding to cover the costs of providing these items.
- Schoolbooks are the property of the school and must be returned to the school at the end of the school year.
- Schools will be provided with additional admin support.
The Department has issued guidance for schools and information for parents on how the new scheme will operate at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes
