System to provide 'life-changing' benefits of libraries to pupils has 'collapsed', organisation says

Mason Savage from second class in Scoil Íosagáin, Farranree, picks out a book in the school's new library recently. Almost 600 of those primary schools told Children’s Books Ireland they rely on donations from parents, guardians and the wider school community to keep their bookshelves stocked. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Children are missing out on the “life-changing” benefits of reading due to a systematic and consistent deficit of sustainable funding for school libraries, Children’s Books Ireland has warned.

Following the withdrawal of school library funding in 2008, the system whereby public libraries provided guidance and support to school has “collapsed”, according to the non-profit organisation.