Minister Burke welcomes free school book initiative for primary schools

Minister for European Affairs and Defence Peter Burke has said the new initiative for primary schools and special schools which provides free schoolbooks will ease the financial burdens facing families during back-to-school-time.

Minister Burke stated: “Currently, we have over 11,800 children in our 73 primary schools in Westmeath and these families will benefit from this latest intervention.

“This is one of the Cost of Living measures which will go some way to ease the cost of going back to school for parents of primary children that can be a very expensive time. It not only covers school books, but workbooks and copy books also.

“The pilot programme ran in the DEIS schools as part of a Fine Gael initiative in 2020 and this measure now extends the Free School Book programme to all primary schools.

“This free books scheme to primary school children will have a positive impact on academic, social and emotional development of children and it will ensure a level playing field for all children.

“School managements will be supported in the administration of the scheme and I would like to acknowledge their role in the operation of the programme,” concluded Minister Burke.