Over €1.6 million in funding for free school books in Louth

Over €1.6 million in funding has been allocated to primary schools and special schools across Louth this week to provide free school books to pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023.

The new funding package secured in Budget 2023 will see free school books provided in all primary schools and special schools, in a permanent measure designed to ease some of the financial burden facing families with back-to-school costs.

Under the scheme Louth has been allocated €1,661,568.

The government say grant payments being made to schools this week will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, workbooks and copybooks at primary school, including special schools.

The scheme will benefit more than 558,000 pupils nationally in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools.

Schools will receive €96 in respect of each pupil enrolled, with the scheme involving a total spend of €53,584,032.

Fergus O’Dowd, Fine Gael TD for Louth welcomed the funding saying:

“This is a landmark funding package, totalling over €53 million, which was secured in Budget 2023 and strengthens our commitment to have a first class education system,” O’Dowd said.

“I am delighted that the delivery on this promise to ease the burden of back to school costs for families has come to pass today. The scheme will benefit more than 558,000 pupils nationally, who are attending approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools.

“Closer to home, I’m very pleased that so many children and families in Louth and Meath will benefit from this package with a total grant of over €1.6m awarded to qualifying Louth schools and over €2.5m awarded to qualifying schools in Meath.

“This will give parents and guardians one less back to school expense to worry about at such a concerning time.

“Grant payments are being made this week, which means schools will now have the funding required to cover the costs of providing all these items well in advance of the start of the next school year.

“It’s important to also acknowledge that this provision, as well as easing the Cost of Living burden of families, means that every child in primary school will be equal in the classroom, with access to all the required materials which can and will only enhance their educational experience.”