Funding of over €700,000 confirmed for free school books in Carlow

Funding of €734,016 has been confirmed for free school books in Carlow. 

Fianna Fáil TD Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has welcomed Minister for Education Norma Foley’s confirmation of the payment of of that figure to provide primary school children in Carlow with free school books.

This landmark scheme will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils attending primary and special schools in Carlow.

Thereafter the grant should be used to eliminate costs of related classroom resources such as pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, colouring pencils and whiteboard markers.

As part of Budget 2023, Minister Foley announced over €50 million to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023.

This free schoolbooks measure will eliminate the cost to families for all schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks at primary school, including special schools.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor said: “I welcome today’s announcement that funding of more than €730,000 is being paid to schools across Carlow providing primary school children with free books for the first time in the history of the state.  

"This ground-breaking, permanent measure is further evidence of Fianna Fail’s commitment to supporting access to education for all by enhancing the educational experience, not just in the classroom but reaching out into the family home. By providing free school books, workbooks and copy books, we will ease some of the financial burden facing families with the back-to- school costs,” she said.