Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The question I asked related to the fact that the level of broadband service being offered to schools, particularly primary schools, has been criticised by the INTO. It is so bad that some schools have refused to pay for it and have gone about getting their own service. Is the Minister of State concerned that HEAnet, which was devised to provide broadband to our schools, has been rejected by the INTO, which is the representative body of primary teachers who deal with children in schools? The progress in this area has been abysmal. The Minister of State mentioned that 78 post-primary schools out of a total of 3,260 have high-speed broadband in an era when we are attempting to develop a smart economy. Technology, and learning through technology, is essential. What plans does the Minister of State have to advance high-speed broadband access to all schools?

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