The Department of Education and Skills has announced it has ring-fenced €15 million in book grants for the next school year.

Minister Ruairi Quinn asked the department to carry out research to find out how many primary and secondary schools operate a book rental scheme in order to reduce the financial burden of purchasing school books on families.

The poll found 76 per cent of primary schools that responded have such an initiative in place, compared with just 44 per cent of secondary schools. 

"I am very pleased to see the high level of book rental schemes in operation at primary school level and want to encourage this practice across all schools in our education landscape," Minister Quinn stated.

It was revealed a new draft guideline on the practice will be published to help schools with best practice, while there will be no change to the way book grants are issued during 2012-13.

According to recent research published in the Irish Examiner from the St Vincent de Paul, a family with four children could have spent as much as €3,200 on secondary school books by the time all of the youngsters leave education.

Written by Donal Walsh

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