Education Minister Norma Foley has announced over €50 million in funding for an expanded free schoolbooks scheme for the coming new term in September.
The Minister said that the new funding will mean the scheme is now available to parents with children in every single primary and special school in the country.
It will come as a welcome bonus this year especially as the cost-of-living crisis has made it tougher for families to make ends meet and pay for simple essentials like schoolbooks.
READ MORE - Education Minister Norma Foley says she doesn't let online abuse stop her from doing her job
Ms Foley said: "While it is imperative that every child in Ireland has the resources required to access education, the Government recognises that back-to-school costs can be a source of financial difficulty for many families every year.
"Grant payments being made this week as part of this ground-breaking new scheme will mean that parents or guardians will no longer need to buy or rent schoolbooks, workbooks or copybooks for their children.
"Schools will now have the funding required to cover the costs of providing these items ahead of the start of the new school year, helping to ensure that every child has the same opportunity to access and reap the benefits of education."
The grants will be available through schools in time for the start of the September 2023 term.
The scheme will benefit more than 558,000 pupils nationally in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools.
Schools will receive €96 in respect of each pupil enrolled, with the scheme involving a total spend of €53,584,032.
READ NEXT:
- Stepfather of key Kinahan cartel lieutenant drove bus in US President Joe Biden's Irish visit cavalcade
- Wild Youth trying to 'stay positive' - after J.K. Rowling accuses the band of 'misogyny'
- Man who cleaned ‘house of horrors’ where Keane Mulready-Woods was murdered set to walk free in days
- Bank Holiday weather: Met Eireann forecast mainly 'scattered showers' before major turn next week
- Man City land huge title race blow with emphatic 4-1 win over Arsenal - 5 talking points
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
