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ALTHOUGH SCHOOL COSTS have been mounting up, one third of all secondary schools across Ireland don’t have a book rental scheme.
The figures have come to light this week and led to calls for the scheme to be picked up by more schools.
A recent survey from the Irish League of Credit Unions recently found that the average cost of sending a child back to school is over €1,185.
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education and Skills Teachta Carol Nolan, who released the figures after receiving them on foot of a parliamentary question, has called on the Minister for Education Richard Bruton to address the cost of school books in this year’s budget.
Deputy Nolan Nolan said:
We have seen from recent surveys carried out by Barnardos and the Irish League of Credit Unions that the cost of school books remains one of the significant costs of sending children back to school.
Figures released by the Department of Education show clearly that there is an uneven spread of school book rental schemes in secondary schools across the state.
She pointed out that in Dublin, 37% of secondary schools operate a book rental scheme while 100% of secondary schools in Leitrim do so.
Sinn Féin has called for an increase of 30% in the School Books Grant at an approximate cost of €5 million in order to make affordable school books more accessible to students.
Facts and figures
In an answer to Deputy Nolan’s parliamentary question, Education Minister Richard Bruton said that his department provides funding to schools to support the operation of school book rental schemes.
The most recent figures available at primary level indicate that 95% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme.The most recent figures available at second level indicate that 65% of second level schools operate book rental schemes.
He attached a breakdown of the schools which operate the scheme.
They show that:
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, the Department of Education said its approach “is to support and encourage all schools to have book rental schemes”.
There is a School Books Grant Scheme in place that provides assistance for books for students and to support book rental schemes in all recognised primary and post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme.
Under this scheme, the Department has provided over €25 million to post-primary schools in the last 3 years. The arrangements in relation to this scheme are set out in Circular 0046/2013 which is published on the Department’s website.
The department launched guidelines for developing textbook rental schemes in schools in 2013, which provide practical advice to primary and post-primary schools on how rental schemes can be established and operated.
“The aim of the guidelines is to help as many schools as possible to start such book rental programmes,” said the department, which also published a special Guide for Parents.
It added that the Government has just launched the first Action Plan for Education, “aimed at making the Irish education and training service the best in Europe by 2026″.
It noted that a number of the actions aim to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.
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Not surprised, he was never becoming a millionaire with that music
If he thinks, they are getting votes for a song? He can go, whistle Dixie!
One of the best mounts on “Celebrity Bainisteoir” was the reaction of the team that Paul Gogarty was sent to. You could almost see the thought bubbles ” Who the F*** is he anyway?”
“Fu!k you Deputy Stagg! Fu!k you! I apologise for my unparliamentary language Ceann Comhairle.”
Gobsh1te of the highest order
Go away Goarty your a bore.
Paul F”ck you, another useless failed Politician,why in Gods name would anyone want to have anything to do with him?
This is the last thing we need happening in Irish politics at the moment.
A trained journalist? He makes most of the writers around here look like Joseph Pulitzer!
A deranged and self absorbed fellow.
He thinks the greens are too concerned with environmental issues? Isn’t that what the greens are for? Dope…..
Is this a joke?
No he’s super serial this time guys
Yes. The truth is he is a teacher on sabbatical looking for an inflated pension and a speech writer to wipe his arse for him.
I for one would like to welcome Mr Gogarty to the free ride that is and shall always be Irish politics.
Every election has these local crackerpots who run just to get attention when everything else they touch turns to dirt! He would be better off and have more success with the singing! Does he honestly expect to get any votes??? It will be Irish people voting and any that vote for green party traitors should be deported!
The Green party should have done the decent thing and disbanded.
No no no no no…..not him again.
All these Green’s in here today hasn’t done my hangover any good.
What’s the point in running a low key campaign? Either you put the effort in, in hope to win a seat or you don’t bother. What a waste
Amadán.
The “Fist Candidate”? Takes all sorts.
Indeed, good sir.
Given that Gogo has in the past made a very poor hand of engagement on sites like this ( worth a Google, might I add), his preference for one to one contact is hardly surprising.
No doubt he thinks we’re all wrong and he’s an unappreciated svengali.
A Trojan Horse?
A horses arse !!
No….the stuff that comes out of a horses arse!
Actually called at my door as few weeks ago, missed him but he put through a small photocopied outlining that he was running for local elections! I did appreciate him telling Stagg to F@@@ You! Looks like the music career didn’t really take off!
A useless one?
Fcuk you mister Gogerty Fcuk you.
What a tosser :-)
This deluded fool again ,wonder will he be dragging his child around the streets with him while canvassing,he is an absolute moron ,why do we have such asses in Irish politics
F**k you deputy Gogarty.
Is this the pr1ck who could not get a baby sitter so he had to bring his child to work,
The only reason he’s going back, is because of the money; nothing more.
What’s a media who*e …????
Paul your music is crap but I would quite happily buy it if I thought it would keep you out of politics for good.
I’s will miss his emotion provoking music ..lol lol always brought tears to my eyes ..lol lol
I used to canvass for him. Really nice guy. I’m not happy with him claiming “People can’t afford to think green at the moment”. That’s just cowardly and defeatist. Thinking Green is never convenient, but it’s cheaper in the long run.
*moments
Don’t call us….we’ll call you
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