Mr. Mark Griffin:

This was a phased implementation, commencing in 2012. In 2012, some 202 schools across 14 western and midland counties were connected, including Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. In 2013, as mentioned, a further 236 schools in counties Dublin, Meath and Kildare were connected. The remaining 269 post-primary schools in Carlow, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow were provided with 100 Mbps connectivity by the end of 2014. In total, when account is taken of the schools and education centres, we are one short of 800 schools that have been covered by the programme. We met all of the capital costs. We paid the current cost for the year in which the connection was made and for the subsequent 12 months. The feedback we have received is that the programme is very effective.