Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, has argued with me that we should start with the islands and work back in regard to the rollout of broadband. I know he is discussing this with the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys.

Let me make it crystal clear that every second level school in Ireland has a minimum of 100 Mbps broadband speed, whether it is on the mainland or on an island. What is hugely disappointing for me, as the Minister who funded the roll-out of this broadband through my Department, is that a number of the schools are not using it. I was amazed to learn from talking to some second level schoolteachers during the summer about the lack of engagement in regard to the high-speed broadband that is currently available in our second level schools. As the Deputy said, this could provide a far broader range of subjects. On some of the islands, for the first time, second level pupils are getting access to honours maths, a subject that was never available to them before. I would urge parents and pupils to actively encourage principals and teachers in the schools to use the broadband they have.

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