North west junior cycle students to benefit from free book scheme

Junior cycle students are to get free school books from September.

The Education Minister announced the measure this afternoon, which includes free materials like calculators and copies.

68 million euro is being provided which will benefit 212-thousand pupils.

It remains whether or not this will be extended further in the next budget.

Local election candidate and teacher Keith Henry says this will go someway to alleviating the costs faced by parents and guardians in sending their child to school.