Free primary school books 'first step' as minister determined to expand to second level

Annabelle Coade and Amelia Shinkwin from First Class at Strawberry Hill National School on Blarney St, Sunday's Well, Cork. Minister Norma Foley said the new €47m scheme will see the State provide free schoolbooks to more than 500,000 children. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

Schools will have the opportunity to continue the relationship they have with local bookshops, which often rely on the annual sales of textbooks, under the new scheme announced as part of Budget 2023.

That is according to Norma Foley, the Minister for Education, who provided details at a budget briefing on Wednesday of the new €47m scheme that will see the State provide free schoolbooks to more than 500,000 children.