School Textbooks
Seanad Éireann — 2023-02-08
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

That is good news. This gesture – it is more than a gesture – is absolutely appreciated by school communities around the country. It is good news that the Minister has clarified that schools will be able to nominate their preferred provider. Most of the independent bookshops and shops already have arrangements in place with schools. There was a concern that they would be bypassed. I know the Minister understands the importance of supporting local businesses. It is important that this measure is a win-win for everybody and what the Minister outlined is a win-win. It is a groundbreaking new provision, as she said, which will ease the back-to-school financial burden on families. I appreciate the work the Minister, her office and the Department have done.
I have one question. The Minister referred to the detailed guidance for primary schools on the operation. Does she have any idea when that will be in place to allow schools and book providers to put their own systems in place?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2023-02-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:51:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-02-08