THE provision of free schoolbooks this coming September will alleviate economic burdens for Limerick parents of students in junior cycle, primary, and special education.
That’s according to Higher Education Minister and local Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan, who said that the expansion of the program this new school year to include junior cycle students at secondary level demonstrates his party’s dedication to making education more affordable.
“Parents and guardians in Limerick can now feel relieved as the school year approaches. The financial burden of school supplies, which can be substantial, has been lifted for primary school and junior cycle students,” Minister O’Donovan said.
This year, Minister O’Donovan says, Fine Gael has expanded the free schoolbook program to cover 212,000 junior cycle students across around 670 secondary schools across the country, including many in Limerick.
“This initiative not only saves Limerick families money, but also time they would have spent gathering school supplies, as schools are now fully equipped to distribute all essential materials before the school year starts,” he said.
“Now, 775,000 students across secondary, primary, and special education schools will have access to schoolbooks, notebooks, and, where possible, other classroom resources, all fully funded.
The Limerick Higher Education Minister added that the initiative goes beyond just economic relief, “it ensures that every student in Limerick, no matter their background, has access to necessary educational resources”.
He also asserted his belief that is it “crucial for the Minister for Education to consider extending free schoolbook services to senior cycle students”.
