Free schoolbook scheme having negative effect on independent bookshops
The introduction of the free school book scheme has massively impacted on independent bookshops who are struggling to compete with larger companies, while footfall generally has also suffered due to parents no longer coming in with their booklists.
That's according to Antonia Daly of Antonia's Bookstore who has been in business at Navangate, Trim, since 2005. She spoke of the volume of work involved in putting together quotes for primary schools, while the tender process for secondary school books is so complicated that it essentially excludes smaller bookshops.
Last week, Irene Gahan of Academy Book Store in Drogheda closed her bookshop and spoke of how the Government's introduction of free schoolbooks had sounded the “death knell” for independent bookshops across Ireland.
Antonia Daly said while nobody has an issue with parents getting free books and that it is a brilliant scheme, she said it was the execution of the scheme that they have an issue with and felt any consultation with the Department of Education was merely a box ticking exercise.
Bookselling Ireland represents bookstores and Antonia said the Department of Education didn't have any meetings them to discuss how it would work or take on any of the suggestions that were made about how free book schemes are done in other countries.
She also said the teachers unions weren't very happy about the extra workload for them either.
“Schools have to get three quotes. As a sole trader, I didn't have a day off in six months. I did so many qutoes but for every 50 quotes you did, you might get four schools.
“At secondary level, it is even more complicated. That has to go to tender so that kind of eliminates small book shops because the tendering process is so complicated. There is so much work and they have a small amount of staff.”
Most of the local schools have purchased their books with Antonia and she said that apart from quoting competitively, schools also know they will get great service and they all have her mobile number if they need anything throughout the year.
She said the bigger picture for booksellers is they are missing out on children and parents getting their first introduction to their shop.
“Losing the school books on their own was bad but sometimes the first time a parent may have ever been in your shop is when their child starts in junior infants and they come in to your shop, they see your shop and what you have to offer and they might come back and buy a voucher for a birthday present.
“It has had a massive impact on footfall for every book shop. We can see the impact on a Saturday, when we would have sold so many vouchers for birthdays. Now they are going to Smyths to buy a voucher instead.”
Antonia said you can really see the age group you are missing and that the parents of older children are still coming in because they have had that introduction and it is the younger ones they are missing.
Meanwhile, Dawn Behan of Bookselling Ireland: “While Bookselling Ireland always welcomes any initiative to reduce financial pressure on parents, the implementation of the Free School Book Scheme is having a devastating effect on bookshops of all sizes.
“The scheme has removed footfall and sales from bookshops, and consequently other small businesses in towns throughout the country. We have already seen the closure of at least ten bookshops in 2024 and one bookshop in 2025.
“Bookshops make an enormous contribution to the social and cultural fabric of their communities, providing access to a wide range of cultural activities. However, this contribution cannot be taken for granted and should be valued and supported to ensure bookshops continue to be viable.”