The Department of Education has launched new guidelines to help schools set up book rental schemes.
It is aimed at easing the burden on parents, and could save them 80% of the cost of buying new books.
A total of €15m has been set aside to help schools set up a rental system.
Education Minister Ruairí Quinn says it’ll benefit schools and parents: "There's quite a significant saving for parents who are making contributions to schoolbooks themselves.
"In disadvantaged schools, there is a grant for debt schools and some of that grant goes to a book scheme.
"But this is set out more clearly and enables parents to avail of a scheme that doesn't really cost them an awful lot of money."