Clonroche NS to benefit from pilot free book scheme
PRIMARY SCHOOL PLANS TO UPGRADE CERTAIN SERIES OF BOOKS FOR ITS PUPILS
CLONROCHE National School has been chosen for participation in a national pilot scheme to provide free books to pupils.
It’s one of 102 primary schools across the country that will be benefit from an overall national investment of €1m.
Speaking to this newspaper about what it means for the school Principal, Norma Doyle, expressed delight that Clonroche is being included.
‘We are really delighted to get word that we’re being included,’ she said.
‘For the last 20 years we have operated a book rental scheme so we have been concerned about cost-cutting for parents,’ she added.
She inclusion in the pilot scheme will mean books in the school can be upgraded.
‘Our book rental scheme has worked very well but the big thing about this funding is that many of our books are worn and now we will be able to upgrade certain series of books for the children,’ she said.
She complimented the children and their parents for consistently looking after the books in the rental scheme.
Ms Doyle highlighted the general cost of school books and how it places a lot of pressure on parents.
‘They are very expensive books but you can’t blame publishers though because there really is a lot in them but book rental and this new pilot scheme will help enormously,’ she said.
‘Books are expensive so this will be a great support to parents.’
Minister Paul Kehoe also welcomed the measure and said the pilot scheme will see the book grant increase to €85 per pupil in the participating schools - all of which are in the DEIS programme.
The investment is being made on top of the book grant provided to all schools in the country and follows on from a measure in the last budget to introduce an extra support to reduce costs for families and school communities.
The existing school grant provided through the Department of Education and Skills across the country is €17m.
That’s provided to primary and secondary schools that are within the Free Education Scheme and is aimed at providing assistance for books including book rental schemes.
The aim of book rental schemes is to help alleviate costs to parents.
It’s expected that around 15,000 children nationwide will benefit from the funding through the new pilot scheme including those attending Clonroche National School.
Minister Kehoe said he hopes the scheme will be extended to other schools around the county.
‘This is an extremely important project that will ease the burden on hard working families in Enniscorthy,’ said Minister Kehoe.
‘But it must go further, to other schools, given the financial pressures that face parents,’ he added.