Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
143. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has carried out any research or reviews of funding provided under the schoolbooks scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10751/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government acknowledges that education should be inclusive of all children and young people, recognising that particular students may need particular supports. It commits to continue work to tackle all forms of disadvantage in education and promote inclusivity and to provide free schoolbooks to all children in the Free Education Scheme and introduce changes as needed to the operation of this scheme. As Minister for Education and Youth, I want to ensure that all our children and young people have the opportunity of access to education which empowers them to thrive and realise the full extent of their potential.
Since 2023, over €340 million has been invested in the Primary and Post-primary Schoolbooks Schemes. For the first time in September 2025 all children and young people in primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme received free schoolbooks and core classroom resources.
A review of the implementation of year 2 of the primary scheme and year 1 of the post-primary scheme for Junior Cycle students was undertaken. All primary and post-primary schools were asked to provide data on their expenditure in respect of the 2024/25 school year.
Primary and special schools have recently been asked to provide data on their expenditure in respect of the 2025/26 school year. The portal for primary schools to submit an income and expenditure return for year 3 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme is currently open and schools will have until 27 February to submit a return. The post-primary return will issue to schools in the coming weeks. This data received from schools will support analysis of the schemes to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the schemes for future years.
Data from primary and post-primary schools will be analysed by my department as part of the evaluation and review of both schemes. My department will undertake ongoing evaluation of the schoolbooks schemes and in this regard will continue to engage with the DPEIPD as the scope of the evaluation is determined, to ensure all aspects of the implementation of each scheme are adequately addressed.
I am grateful to all school leaders who have taken the time to submit the information to my department in relation to the scheme.
