Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I reiterate the welcome extended to the delegation from the Department. In respect of Mr. Gallagher's comment, it is all very well to move with the times and engage new media, but I remember how video-conferencing was the buzz word when I was teaching some time ago. I remember taking a lead on it in west Cork. We were engaged in providing special needs education to the islands via video-conferencing. It was hailed as the future but it very quickly became the past and I would say it is now non-existent in schools. A measured approach to this new technology is wise under the circumstances.

Scratch was referred to and Senator Healy Eames mentioned CoderDojo. Policy is too strong a word because if I had my way there would probably not be a policy, but what is the approach of the Department? Are there any plans to endorse that movement? I engage with it on Friday evenings and take my sons to sessions in Clonakilty. As a former educationalist, I have no doubt its value is immense. As Senator Healy Eames stressed, it is a voluntary movement. I am particularly lucky because Mr. Harrington, who is the principal of the school my sons attend in Clonakilty, is very proactive on digital literacy, is very supportive of CoderDojo and uses the school's e-mail to e-mail parents encouraging them to engage in support of it. Obviously, there is no directive, but are plans afoot? I know my colleague, the junior Minister at the Department, is very supportive of the project. Are there any plans for the Department to offer encouragement to primary school principals to engage or assist with it, possibly by providing premises?

My next question is more for the building unit. I visited a school this Monday that recently benefited from a devolved grant. I was admiring the works carried out and the exceptional good value. A professional person was with me who would appreciate the value of building and the school got significant value from the devolved grant so it is definitely good news. I asked the principal whether any building specification was given by the Department for building a new classroom and I was somewhat surprised to see that there was none. I know it may not be necessary with wireless technology but in respect of the future of interactive whiteboards, are there any plans for a building specification for classrooms which looks to the future and bears digital literacy in mind?

Education centres will be key to future developments and it is important to ensure they are supported. Continuing professional development and secondary school teachers who do not get to course days were mentioned. We in the primary sector used to refer to them as "course days" and enjoyed them very much. God be with those days. Secondary teachers do not get them. Education centres are doing great work and are key to this being addressed. This area is very daunting for teachers my age and the tendency would be to keep away from it rather than to embrace it. It is perfectly understandable.

Is digital literacy a feature for the inspectorate and whole school evaluations? Are moves by schools on digital literacy recognised and rewarded? The obvious role of teacher training was referred to by Mr. Ward.