COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 08, 2013

MOTION NO.7

MOTION: Councillor P. Cosgrave

That this Council support the findings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection Report that Local Authorities use funds from the local property tax to support a book-rental scheme for primary schools through their local Libraries and that this Council set up one pilot project next year.

REPORT:

The Council is not likely to have additional resources to fund the proposed scheme in 2014 as the demand on existing income is substantial. The local property tax is intended to replace both the local government fund and the non principal private residence charge in 2014 and to achieve this financially an average tax of €275 per property must be collected from every private residence in the County in addition to €90 from social housing properties.

The South Dublin library service currently fulfils a significant role in education by supporting literacy and learning and of streamlining access to information tools. A Summer Reading Programme devised by South Dublin Libraries is being implemented by five partner local authorities during 2013. Under this programme the school report issued for every child in the County will reference the programme and services available from South Dublin Libraries. A School Book Grant scheme previously operated by the library service was re-assigned to schools in 2009 in order to benefit from the knowledge and understanding of curriculum and student requirements that is innate to teachers

There are currently 102 primary schools and 34 post primary schools across the County educating approx 60,000 children of school going age. The Department of Education and Skills published the following guidelines and estimated funding requirements for the operation of rental schemes in schools in 2012 and are in a better position to administer and fund a school book rental scheme http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Textbook-Rental-Schemes-in-Schools/Guidelines-for-Developing-Textbook-Rental-Schemes-in-Schools.pdf