Every sixth-class primary school pupil in Ireland is set to receive a free children’s version of Ireland’s EU Presidency Policy Programme.
The book, commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was launched yesterday by Minister Helen McEntee at Stackallen National School in Co Meath.
Principals have been invited to distribute the book to the more than 70,000 sixth class pupils nationwide.
Titled ‘Ireland’s EU Presidency – Ní neart go cur le chéile’, meaning there is no strength without unity, it contains accessible language and illustrations targeted at 8-12 year olds.
Each chapter breaks down a different aspect of the role of the EU Presidency.
Minister Helen McEntee spoke at the launch about the reasoning behind the book’s release.
“Every decision we take impacts young people, they mightn’t realise it.
“So today, and more broadly with the book, it’s about letting them know that this impacts their life and getting their views on what more we can do,” she said.
The book’s author is children’s writer Siobhán Parkinson, who created the book alongside illustrator Nene Lonergan. She said she wrote the book hoping to find a balance of tones.
“It’s for the emotion, the enjoyment, the imagination and all those things, but it’s also really important that children can grow up to be citizens, readers and also understand the world and the news,” she said.
Each copy is in both English and Irish, marking Ireland’s first EU Presidency since Irish gained full status as an official language of the European Union, which occurred on 1 January 2022.
Deliveries of the book to 3,217 primary schools, including special schools, are taking place from 1-11 of September.
Limited copies of the book will be available on the Irish library network later this month and a digital version will be available online.