As the Taoiseach is aware, the free primary schoolbooks scheme has been a welcome support for families and schools across the country. However, schools experiencing significant increases in enrolment often find the current per capita funding model based on the previous year’s enrolment figures does not fully meet their needs, particularly when new pupils join after the funding has been allocated. On top of this, schools now need to purchase a new maths book to reflect the changes in the primary maths curriculum this September, which places further pressure on already stretched book grants. Given these challenges, will the Government consider introducing a more responsive funding mechanism or a supplementary fund to ensure schools with rising enrolments are adequately resourced to provide free books and materials to all pupils throughout the year?

The introduction of free schoolbooks for some 940,000 children and young people in primary and post-primary and special schools in the free education scheme from the start of 2025-26 was a really significant progressive decision that was taken some years ago by the then education Minister, Deputy Foley, and has been continued. The Deputy has raised interesting points about the mechanics of the scheme and how it operates with regard to enrolment numbers and textbooks consequent on curricular change. I will raise these issues with the Minister to see if a more flexible and responsive model can be developed. Of course, that could also have implications for schools that lose pupils. Sometimes we have to be cautious about what we wish for.