11,500 Westmeath children will benefit from free schoolbooks

Almost 11,500 children in Westmeath will benefit from free schoolbooks in the coming weeks.

The free schoolbooks, workbooks and copy books are being funded from a €1.1bn initiative introduced this year by Minister of Education Norma Foley TD.

Nationwide, more than 558,000 pupils enrolled in over 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the scheme.

More than €50 million has also been made available to support this scheme, including an administrative grant for schools rolling out the initiative.

Welcoming the fact that 11, 482 local children will benefit from the scheme, Fianna Fáil Senator Aidan Davitt described it as a "landmark moment for Irish education, and one which will provide significant benefit for families around the country".

“Back-to-school time can be a challenging time for parents and families, and I welcome Minister Foley’s commitment to easing the burden. We in Fianna Fáil believe in the power of education, and we believe in making education truly accessible for all. This is yet another positive step forward, which I wholeheartedly welcome," Senator Davitt said.