Mr. Eddie Ward:

There is an ongoing issue on the degree to which the Department can support schools on their individual needs. The Department makes available maintenance grants to schools out of which they are run. With regard to the purchase of ICT equipment for classrooms, there was an issue with regard to what degree we could prescribe centrally what a school needed. We put in place procurement frameworks so schools could get value for money. Schools wanted access to what has been described by the committee members, but they wanted it at local level and the Department could not do this. My colleague is correct to state that providing such a service to every school is not on in the current economic circumstances. At the time schools made a major point of negotiating their own local arrangements with a technical provider, and we gave guidance on what they should look for, ensuring they considered the entire cost and that they dealt with quality people and had in place appropriate warranties.

There is tension around this issue. When the previous strategy was considered, the idea of technical support for schools was discussed. It was decided that schools would take their own advice, as they do in respect of many of the other matters involved in running and managing a school.

My other colleague wishes to address-----