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Schoolbooks Scheme for Junior Cycle in Post-Primary Schools
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The new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme, introduced for the 2024/25 school year, will remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks, including eBooks, and core classroom resources for all Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. A full description of what is to be provided by schools to students is provided in the guidance.
If schools have surplus funding they may choose to purchase additional classroom resources for students. Expenditure under additional classroom resources is limited to expenditure that, up to the commencement of the scheme, was borne by parents/guardians, either by providing the item or paying a fee to the school to provide the item.
Funding under the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme does not extend to including the purchase of digital devices by schools. However, schools may use the funding for digital media support, which relates to teaching and learning within curricular requirements as outlined in the guidance.
All schoolbooks remain the property of the school and are on loan to students.
A separate Administration Grant has put in place for schools, for administrative support. Further information on the rate of the Administrative Support Grant and its payment are contained within the guidance.
The guidance for the 2024/2025 school year has been developed to assist post-primary schools to implement the scheme in advance of the 2024/25 school year. It is important that all schools consult the guidance to ensure that the scheme is implemented in line with the scheme requirements.
The Department has created a quick reference guide for schools to support schools by answering common questions schools may have about the scheme.
Schools have the autonomy to implement the scheme within the scope of the guidance. Schools have been asked to communicate to parents/guardians how the scheme will be run in their school. This will help parents/guardians plan for any expenditure that may be required to cover additional resources not being provided under the scheme.
The Department has also created a parents/guardians information leaflet which can be accessed below.
Schoolbooks Grant Guidance for Post Primary Schools 2024/25
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Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme Quick Reference Guide for Schools
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The Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme will remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks for children and young people enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. A leaflet has been created to provide parents/guardians with information about the scheme. This can be downloaded below.
Schools have obligations to comply with the National Procurement Guidelines and the relevant legislation that governs public procurement in Ireland when sourcing goods and services. All tenders using public funds must also include green public procurement (GPP).
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) is the central support resource for providing guidance to all recognised primary schools, including special schools, and to post-primary schools (except ETB schools) on any procurement-related issue. The SPU delivers free advice and practical support to schools to help them achieve improvements in their procurement processes, practices and outcomes. The unit has produced Guidance for Schools on Good Procurement Practices which is available at [external-link www.spu.ie | www.spu.ie ]
The guidance does not place any additional responsibilities upon schools that are not already in legislation. They offer guidance for schools on ways to satisfy their obligations to the National Procurement Guidelines and the legislation that governs public procurement in Ireland when sourcing goods and services.
The Department of Education, together with Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), have developed additional guidance for schools to assist them with the procurement process for the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme. Schools should familiarise themselves with the guidance document below.
Procurement Guidance for Post-Primary Schools Junior Cycle Schoolbook v.2
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Additional supporting information is available from the SPU at the following link SPU Schoolbooks scheme
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) is the central support resource for providing guidance to schools (except ETB schools) on any procurement-related issue.
The unit will continue to provide support to schools and is being augmented with additional staffing to respond to schools’ queries.
If you require support or assistance as you navigate through the Junior Cycle schoolbooks procurement process email JCschoolbooks@education.gov.ie
Schools should also refer to the template for quotations for assistance with requesting quotations from suppliers. This Post-primary School Quotation Template excel document can be downloaded from the Schools Procurement Unit website on their dedicated Schoolbooks Scheme webpage: www.spu.ie/schoolbooks-scheme/
There are a number of information resources available with regards to responsibilities in this area, and are linked below:
The Office of Government Procurement also aims to promote schemes to facilitate Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) participation in Public Procurement. DPER Circular 05/2023 refers to initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement and outlines the schemes which schools may consider as part of their procurement process. For further information this circular can be accessed below
The Financial Services Support Unit (FSSU) supports boards of management in complying with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 in terms of transparency, accountability, and financial responsibility for State and other funding. In accordance with DE Circular 02/2018, the Financial Services Support Unit (FSSU) supports boards of management in the Community & Comprehensive and Voluntary Secondary School sectors.
This includes standardising arrangements for compliance with accounting requirements under Section 18 of the Education Act 1998 and enhancing current financial support structures for schools. The FSSU also supports boards of management in meeting their compliance requirements to other regulatory and statutory bodies.
The FSSU has also created guidance to support schools in administering the financial aspects of the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme.
As previously set out in Circular 46/2013 Allocation to Schools for Books, schools will continue to receive per capita funding for students in transition year, fifth year and sixth year for the Book Grant. Further information on the arrangements regarding the payment of the Book Grant to post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for schoolbooks, including book rental schemes are outlined in the guidance.
Queries from schools in relation to the book grant for transition year, fifth year and sixth year students should be addressed to Schools Division Financial at sdfinfo@education.gov.ie or in the case of ETBs to ETB Financial and Administrative Personnel Unit at financialetb@education.gov.ie
Junior Cycle Book Scheme (post-primary)
Address:
Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
, N37 X659
Summary:
Social Inclusion Unit