School books are still a big part of the back-to-school checklist for parents across Ireland — though the picture has changed a lot in recent years. Under Ireland’s free schoolbooks scheme, primary schools now provide books, copybooks and workbooks to pupils on a loan basis, and post-primary schools provide core books along with items like school journals, maths sets and calculators, sometimes for a refundable deposit. That means many families no longer need to buy books outright — but there’s still plenty to organise before September, from looking after loaned books to sourcing stationery, bags and any extras that fall outside the scheme.
We asked parents here at Mykidstime — between us we have children right across primary and secondary school — to share their top tips for getting book season sorted with the least stress.
Tips for Buying School Books
#1. Sort Your Book List and Extras Early
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Mum Caroline says “be sure to check what’s needed early”. Even with most core books provided by the school, there are often a few extras — subject-specific workbooks, art supplies or particular stationery items — that families still need to source themselves. Sorting these early means you’re not scrambling the week before term starts, and retailers sometimes run early-season offers on the items that aren’t covered by the scheme.
#2. Know What’s Covered by the Free Schoolbooks Scheme
Mum Michelle says “the biggest change for us has been not having to buy books at all”. In Ireland, primary schools now provide all books, copybooks and workbooks on loan, and post-primary schools provide core books plus items such as journals, refill pads, dictionaries, maths sets and calculators — sometimes for a refundable deposit. It’s worth checking directly with your child’s school each year for exactly what’s included and what, if anything, you still need to buy or bring from home.
#3. Get Your School Books Covered
Mum Jill says “if there is one piece of advice I would give, it would be to get books covered properly”. This matters more than ever now that many books are on loan and need to be handed back at the end of the year in good condition — especially if you have several children who’ll need the same books again.
“I have been that parent battling with sticky-back plastic at 1am the night before school starts, and it is no fun!”
Covering books early, and doing a few at a time rather than leaving them all to the last minute, makes the job far less stressful.
#4. Check with Retailers for What’s Still Needed
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Mum Emily recommends “checking online and in-store to see what’s on your child’s list that isn’t provided by the school”. Retailers who work from official school lists can help you quickly confirm exactly which stationery, bags or extras you need to source, and let you know when items are back in stock if something’s in short supply.
#5. Leave the Legwork to the Experts
Mum Fionnuala says “shop online and leave it to the experts! There is nothing more frustrating than setting aside time to go shopping only to find something is out of stock, or that you’ve picked up the wrong item and have to go back to exchange it.”
By shopping online for stationery, bags and other back-to-school essentials, you can avoid multiple trips to the shops and let the retailer sort out stock and correct editions or specifications on your behalf.
“If they have a delivery service, go for it” is Fionnuala’s final piece of advice!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do parents in Ireland still need to buy school books?
Under the free schoolbooks scheme, primary schools provide books, copybooks and workbooks on loan, and post-primary schools provide core books and classroom items. Some schools may still ask for a small fee for photocopying or extra materials, or a refundable deposit at post-primary level for loaned items.
What happens if a book gets damaged while on loan?
Since loaned books are returned to the school at the end of the year, it’s worth covering and looking after them carefully. Check with your child’s school for their specific policy on damaged or lost items.
Are secondhand school books still worth looking for?
With most core books now provided by the school, secondhand book buying is far less relevant than it used to be. It can still be useful for any extra materials or novels a school doesn’t supply — check with the school what, if anything, falls outside the scheme.
What costs are parents likely to still face at back-to-school time?
Even with books covered, families in Ireland often still budget for uniforms, footwear, schoolbags, stationery outside the scheme, trips, extracurricular activities and after-school care. Costs vary from school to school, so it’s best to check directly with your child’s school for current requirements.
You May Also Enjoy
- Where to Buy and Sell Secondhand School Books in Ireland
- Back to School Budgeting Tips for Parents
- Getting Organised for the New School Year
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