Debate Over Free Schoolbooks: Some Kildare TDs Support Including Private Schools

Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:12

By Martin Osborne

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise O' Cearuil said it is unfair to assume every student attending a private school can afford school books.

Some Kildare TDs agree with rolling out the Governments free schoolbooks scheme to fee-paying schools.

Last month, the Minister for Education announced that the schoolbooks will be extended to Junior and Senior cycle students in the Free Education Scheme.

During parliamentary questions, Minister Helen McEntee said the schoolbooks will be funded from Budget 2025, which doesn't include private fee-charging secondary schools.

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise O' Cearuil said it is unfair to assume every student attending a private school can afford school books.

He told the Sunday Times that a lot of his friends went to private school and "their parents took out loans or topped up their mortgage to do so".

Kildare South TD Sean O' Fearghail also believes private schools should be included in the free schoolbook scheme.

It costs €24,310 for seven-day boarding at Clongowes Wood College in Clane.

This places it among the highest-priced private schools in Ireland, second only to St Columba’s College in Rathfarnham, which costs €28,966.

Some opposition TDs believe State funding of fee-paying schools should be phased out.

€143 million was spent last year on teachers' salaries at 51 fee-paying schools last year.

Labour's Eoghan Kenny believes families with lower incomes are contributing to fee-paying schools through their tax money - a system "they don't benefit from".

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