Education minister must force publishers to reduce prices – Deputy Seán
  Crowe

  Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Deputy Séan Crowe has supported
  Minister Ruairi Quinn’s call for lower school book prices. Deputy Crowe
  has been lobbying the minister to force the publishers of school
  textbooks to reduce their prices and stop printing unnecessary revised
  editions.

  He said: “Most of the cost of sending a child to school, which according
  to Barnardo’s is between €350 and €805, is spent on text books.

  “I welcome Minister Quinn’s efforts but publishers are saying they will
  only agree to a voluntary code of practice regarding prices and new
  editions of school books.

  “Publishers should give discounts to schools making bulk purchases of
  textbooks and the practice of reprinting revised editions of books must
  cease. The Department of Education should look at best practices of
  schools with book rental schemes and use this as a template that can be
  applied in all schools.

  “Low income families are suffering in the economic crisis and the cost
  of sending children to school must be reduced. It is unfortunate that
  Minister Quinn’s efforts get results have come too late to help parents
  with children who are about to start the new school term.”