Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Boyle. I wish to speak to two points. One is the digital divide that was highlighted earlier. The TUI in particular mentioned access to broadband. At the moment schools are providing laptops many students. Why does there have to an interactive element? If there is a difficulty with accessing the Internet for learning why not put programmes onto those laptops so students can work on the exercises at night at home and bring that work in the following day? I presume we are talking about kids who are in the following week and have it assessed, rather than saying that because we do not have broadband that this leads to discrimination. Surely there is a way of getting some of these programmes put onto the laptops where kids can work away regardless of whether broadband is available.