Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-18
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue, which is quite a serious one. The summer programme is fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth and schools are supposed to run the programme within the budget provided by the Department. I am not unfairly having a go. Of course small costs above and beyond might arise and a decision may be made to do something outside the programme. I get that somewhat. The level of cost the Deputy is highlighting is completely at odds with the purpose of the programme, which is taxpayer funded as part of the education system and open to all who qualify for it. I ask that the Deputy pass on the information to the Minister for Education and Youth who will examine it. The Deputy's second point is also correct. There is cross-party consensus on the idea of free school books. What we do not want to see is that free school books are now free school books being replaced with everything going onto a tablet, laptop or the likes. The Minister has written schools about this. I ask that she further engage with the Deputy on this on foot of him raising the issue. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, about the exceptional needs payment and he will come back to the Deputy directly.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-18