Minister Foley announces payment of over €1.5 million in funding for free school books for Kerry primary schools.

Minister for Education and Kerry TD Norma Foley today announced payment of €1,557,504 to provide primary school children in Kerry with free school books.

The scheme will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils in primary and special schools.

Thereafter the grant should be used to eliminate costs of related classroom resources such as pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, colouring pencils and whiteboard markers.

As part of Budget 2023, Minister Foley secured over €50 million in a landmark decision to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023.

This free schoolbooks measure will eliminate the cost to families for all schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks at primary school, including special schools.

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

“Today schools in Kerry will receive over €1.5 million to provide free schoolbooks in all primary schools and special schools," Minister Foley said.

"This ground-breaking, permanent measure will ease some of the financial burden facing families with the back-to-school costs. The scheme will provide, at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils enrolled in primary and special schools in the 2023/24 school year. By providing our primary school children with free school books, we are enhancing their educational experience, not just in the classroom but reaching out into the family home.”