The Primary Schoolbooks Scheme was introduced in 2023, to remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils in recognised primary and special schools. A full description of what is to be provided by schools to pupils is provided in the guidance.
If schools have surplus funding they may choose to purchase additional classroom resources for students. Expenditure under additional classroom resources is limited to expenditure that, up to the commencement of the scheme, was borne by parents/guardians, either by providing the item or paying a fee to the school to provide the item.
Funding under the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme does not extend to including the purchase of digital devices by schools. However, schools may use the funding for digital media support, which relates to teaching and learning within curricular requirements as outlined in the guidance.
All schoolbooks remain the property of the school and are on loan to pupils. While schoolbooks remain the property of the school, pupils should be allowed to bring schoolbooks home in order to complete homework or to allow parents/guardians to stay connected with their child’s learning in school.
A separate Administration Grant has put in place for schools, for administrative support. Further information on the rate of the Administrative Support Grant and its payment are contained within the guidance.
The revised guidance for the 2024/2025 school year has been developed to assist primary schools and special schools to implement the scheme in advance of the 2024/25 school year. The Department conducted a review of the free primary schoolbooks scheme in the 2023/24 school year to reflect and evaluate the implementation of the scheme. A number of changes have been made following this review. It is important that all schools consult the revised guidance to ensure that the scheme is implemented in line with the revised guidance.
The Department has also updated the quick reference guide for schools to provide schools with additional support to further clarify key questions schools may have in relation to the scheme.
Primary schools and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose schoolbooks and related classroom resources that meet curricular requirements. It is important that schools communicate to parents/guardians how the scheme will be run in their school. This will help parents/guardians plan for any expenditure that may be required to cover additional resources not being provided under the scheme.
The Department has also created a parents/guardians information leaflet which can be accessed below.
The Primary Schoolbooks Scheme in primary schools will remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks for children and young people enrolled in recognised primary schools and special schools. A leaflet has been created to provide parents/guardians with information about the scheme. This can be downloaded below.
Primary Schoolbook Scheme – Information for parents.
Information for parents relating to the Primary schoolbook scheme.
Download link for
Download
View the file
View
Schools have obligations to comply with the National Procurement Guidelines and the relevant legislation that governs public procurement in Ireland when sourcing goods and services. All tenders using public funds must also include green public procurement (GPP).
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) is the central support resource for providing guidance to all recognised primary schools, including special schools, and to post-primary schools (except ETB schools) on any procurement-related issue. The SPU delivers free advice and practical support to schools to help them achieve improvements in their procurement processes, practices and outcomes. The SPU has a dedicated webpage for schools specifically relating to the implementation of the schoolbooks scheme, see: www.spu.ie/schoolbooks-scheme/
The Department of Education, together with Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), have developed additional guidance for schools to assist them with the procurement process for the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme. The information in that Guidance is also applicable to primary schools and special schools, Schools should familiarise themselves with the guidance document below.
Procurement Guidance for Primary and Special Schools Schoolbook Grant 2024/25
Download link for
Download
View the file
View
Additional supporting information is available from the SPU at the following link www.spu.ie/schoolbooks-scheme/
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) is the central support resource for providing guidance to schools (except ETB schools) on any procurement-related issue.
The unit will continue to provide support to schools and is being augmented with additional staffing to respond to schools’ queries.
If you require support or assistance as you navigate through the Primary schoolbooks procurement process email primaryschoolbooks@education.gov.ie
Schools should also refer to the template for quotations for assistance with requesting quotations from suppliers.
This Primary School Quotation Template excel document can be downloaded from the Schools Procurement Unit website on their dedicated Schoolbooks Scheme webpage: www.spu.ie/schoolbooks-scheme/
There are a number of information resources available with regards to responsibilities in this area, and are linked below:
The Office of Government Procurement also aims to promote schemes to facilitate Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) participation in Public Procurement. DPER Circular 05/2023 refers to initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement and outlines the schemes which schools may consider as part of their procurement process. For further information this circular can be accessed at this link
In accordance with Department Circular 0060/2017 Roll out and operation of the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) at Primary Level, the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) supports boards of management in the primary sector in complying with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 in terms of transparency, accountability, and financial responsibility for State and other funding. The FSSU also supports boards of management in meeting their compliance requirements to other regulatory and statutory bodies.
This includes standardising arrangements for compliance with accounting requirements under Section 18 of the Education Act 1998 and enhancing current financial support structures for schools. The FSSU also supports boards of management in meeting their compliance requirements to other regulatory and statutory bodies.
The FSSU has also created guidance to support schools in administering the financial aspects of the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme.
Free Schoolbooks Scheme for Primary and Special Schools Guidelines 2023/2024
Primary and Special Schools Book Scheme
Address:
Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
, N37 X659
Summary:
Primary and Special Schools Book Scheme contact details