520. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the policy in relation to the use and provision of tablets to replace or supplement school books in secondary schools; if her Department provides financial support for families without the means of purchasing a tablet where the school policy is for pupils to have a tablet; if she will ensure that no child is disadvantaged by being unable to purchase a tablet where they are in general use in a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/26]

It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the digital resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 does not mandate or prescribe the use of any particular devices or technologies in teaching and learning, rather it advocates for the deeper embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning to develop digital literacy and competence, critical thinking and collaborative practice. It is not merely focused on using digital devices as an alternative to physical textbooks or resources.

Accordingly, there is no Department requirement for students to use personal digital devices for schoolwork or homework. Where digital devices are used as part of teaching and learning, schools are expected to ensure that no child is disadvantaged due to lack of access to technology. Schools are also required to comply with data protection and child wellbeing obligations, and to set out their approach to digital technology use in relevant policies, including the Acceptable Use Policy, in consultation with parents and pupils, as appropriate.

It should be noted that under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day-to-day management of schools. Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made.

I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. A number of measures are in place to support educators and parents, as part of my department’s ongoing commitment to reduce financial pressure on families and ensure every student is supported to succeed. This includes an instruction from my department to schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier - wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.). Schools should also provide a full list of required items, with guidance on best-value options. Circular 32/2017 sets out the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in 2022 and is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy to support its implementation, which was committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP).

Under this current strategy a total of €170m has issued to schools, with the most recent tranche of funding of €35 million issued to all recognised primary, special schools and post-primary schools in January 2026. This funding issued directly to schools, as they are best placed to determine the needs of their own students and have autonomy to do so. This funding can be used on ICT infrastructure as required in the schools and can provide for loan schemes for devices for students as appropriate.

This funding demonstrates the ongoing commitment to support schools to embed the use of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment, providing funding to support each school in its digital learning planning, fairly and transparently, regardless of the individual approach taken by the school.

In Budget 2025, the department announced that the schoolbooks scheme would be further extended to include students in Senior Cycle years, including Transition Year, in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. In total, €170 million has been allocated to provide free schoolbooks for some 940,000 children and young people enrolled in primary, post-primary and special schools in the Free Education Scheme, from the start of the 2025/26 school year. This means, for the first time ever, all children and young people enrolled in primary, special and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme will be provided with schoolbooks and core classroom resources.

The funding removes the cost of schoolbooks and core classroom resources for parents/guardians at post-primary level and schoolbooks workbooks and copybooks for parents/guardians at primary level. Schools retain autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements. As part of Budget 2026, over €160 million is allocated to continue the schoolbooks schemes for the 2026/27 school year.