Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I am aware of the initiative on rolling out broadband. One of the difficulties facing schools is the speed at which such a service can be accessed. Another difficulty can arise if an IT teacher retires because one must then buy in such expertise, which puts pressure on existing resources. It is increasingly happening and the issue is being discussed by boards of management which are trying to surmount the difficulty. Supports are provided for through departmental Estimates but when we move into the school structures the supports are not there. I do not know how to get around that problem. There is probably a lot of IT expertise in the community, including people who are doing internships. That may not be a long-term suggestion but it could be examined in terms of addressing this difficulty. I do not know how the Minister or the Department can deal with it.

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