Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is the final tranche. It has been roughly €6 million every year for three years, and this will connect up 274 schools that are outstanding and ensure they have industrial strength broadband. We are looking at what element of input might be necessary to encourage or ensure schools make optimum use of it. The performance among the teaching profession is probably variable. Some are really ahead of their time, have been doing it on their own steam and are very far advanced, while others are not so advanced. We might have to look at optimising and encouraging maximum usage of the technology. The intention is to complete the programme by September, which is the beginning of the 2014-2015 academic year. My Department bears the running cost for the first year, along with the cost of the installation of the system, and then the running cost goes to the Department of Education and Skills from there.