Free schoolbooks ease back to school burden – Dolan

Free schoolbooks will ease the financial pressures on parents of primary and secondary school students, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Aisling Dolan, Fine Gael spokesperson for Education and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said the scheme, which has been extended this year to include Junior Cycle students in secondary schools, illustrates Fine Gael’s commitment to affordable education.

“Parents and guardians can breathe a sigh of relief ahead of the return to school. There is now one less worry and expense with back-to-school shopping.

“This year, Fine Gael has taken a significant step further by extending the free schoolbook scheme to include 212,000 Junior Cycle students in approximately 670 post-primary schools.

“Families right across the country are not only saving money, but also time that would otherwise be spent hunting down every item on the booklist, as schools are now fully funded to provide all necessary materials ahead of the new school year.

“Schoolbooks, copybooks and where possible some classroom related resources are to be made available to 775,000 students and pupils in secondary, primary, and special schools nationwide.

“It’s a clear demonstration of Fine Gael’s commitment to every child in Ireland reaching their potential. Free schoolbooks help on the educational journey especially the transition for boys and girls from primary to secondary school when new sets of books are so expensive and takes the pressure off parents.

“This initiative is more than just financial relief—it’s about ensuring every child, irrespective of their background, has equal access to the educational resources they need. Equality in the classroom enriches the learning experience for everyone. And I acknowledge the incredible efforts of our teaching staff to roll out the expansion to Junior Cert students.

“With that in mind, it’s incumbent on the Minister for Education to now consider rolling out the free schoolbook provision to include Senior Cycle students.

“Fine Gael remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable education system.

“We believe that every child deserves the best start in life, and we will continue to work tirelessly to remove barriers to education. This initiative is a testament to that commitment of creating a brighter future for all families across the country.” Senator Dolan concluded.