Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Daly and Mr. Fitzsimons for their presentation. Mr. Daly referred to a number of outputs Camara could achieve if it received co-funding - for example, the distribution of 64,000 computers and re-using computers that Departments no longer use. Is that a set figure? Has Camara discussed it with anyone or does it come from experience?

I agree that the main issues in education are literacy and numeracy. Going by my experience, while I am not opposed to ICT, as it has a role to play in education, it has provided the most benefit in the field of special needs education, particularly for children who suffer from dyslexia and dyscalculia. Students are using many apps and programmes such as Reading Eggs at home. These are being joined up with what is being done in class. Reading Eggs is an online database. One logs in and does the work at home, with the teacher monitoring it from the classroom. Vice versa, what is being done in the classroom can be monitored by parents at home through an online platform. Initiatives like this that target literacy and numeracy have considerable potential.

Mr. Daly referred to delivering a programme. Did he mean in a general sense, or will Camara focus on literacy and numeracy? How will it impact on these important issues?