Education

Government to examine cuts to cost of secondary school books under child poverty scheme

Move comes ahead of the introduction of the free school books scheme for all primary pupils later this month

92,000 children are currently living in poverty in Ireland, with another 185,000 children at risk of falling into poverty. The state’s child poverty unit has been set up to reduce that figure. Picture: Getty

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's new child poverty unit is looking at reducing the cost of books for secondary school students ahead of the October budget.

He set up the unit last December when he took over from Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, with the promise of reducing the level of child poverty in the country.

92,000 children are currently living in poverty in Ireland, with another 185,000 children at risk of falling into poverty.

The government is ...