Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:501. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated full-year cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 June 2026
Ceisteanna (501)
Freagraí scríofa
I can advise the Deputy that, based on the Department’s preliminary enrolment data figures for 2025-26, there are 545,726 learners in recognised primary and special schools and 429,657 students in post-primary schools. Based on these preliminary figures, the cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10 per student in the academic year 2025-2026 would be as follows:
Number of pupils: 975,383
Cost in 2025-2026: €9,753,830
Furthermore, the estimated additional costing in relation to the provision of libraries in schools would be substantial. For example, the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. This would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, library assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
As the Deputy would be aware, once off funding of €20 million was made available in May 2022 to enable all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to improve their existing literacy resource banks.
Webinars and the Public Library Resource Guide for Schools provides information for primary and post-primary schools to develop and expand reading and literacy collections within the school setting. The Public Library Supports for Schools are jointly agreed by the Department of Education and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
A teacher’s card is made available to every teacher in every school, which enables each teacher to borrow items for his/her class. As no doubt the Deputy is aware, library membership is completely free of charge for everyone in every library in the country.
Further information on the services to schools can be found at Services to Schools | Libraries Ireland. Libraries Ireland also offer a Digital Library Service, and anyone with a library card can access the eBooks, Audio books and eLearning Resources.
The Library Service published ‘The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027’in July 2023. Under this strategy and the Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy, the Department will further enhance the partnership with the Library Service to increase school usages of the resources that are available through the public libraries.
Since 2023 my department has issued a grant to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people enrolled in all recognised primary schools, including special schools. In 2024 this grant was extended to provide free schoolbooks for all Junior Cycle students, and since September 2025 to include all Senior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Where any surplus funding remains after all other schoolbooks and related classroom resources costs have been met, a school has the discretion to purchase library books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources for their school.
'Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood' and five-year implementation plan was published in May 2024 by the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. This strategy aims to promote the development of essential literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills. Work is continuing in relation to action 1.3.5 of the Strategy, ‘Explore the potential for an expanded programme of library support services to ELC settings, primary and post primary schools.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 486.