Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. A total of €35 million in grant funding for information and communications technology has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. Through the ICT grant and the minor works grant schemes, schools are directly funded for their ICT infrastructure.

Schools have autonomy to determine which infrastructure to implement, including software and devices such as tablets, in accordance with their digital learning plans. The funding can also be used to provide loan schemes for devices, as needed. The ICT grant funding is being provided to schools to help them to continue to embed the use of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment.

This is the third tranche of ICT funding under the digital strategy for schools to 2027. The funding issues as a lump sum per school, plus a per capita amount, with an enhanced per capita rate for students enrolled in DEIS and special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings. Using this model of funding, all schools are treated fairly and transparently and are allocated an amount per student. Schools, in conjunction with parents, are responsible for decisions on the use of digital technology, including tablet devices, laptops and learning platforms, and how best to manage their integration into classroom practice, reflective of their own context and requirements.

Under the Education Act, boards of management have responsibility for the day-to-day management of schools. Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology is therefore a matter for the board of management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community, including parents, when planning for the introduction of digital technologies. This includes devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the board of management before a decision is made.

The Oide technology in education division within the Department of Education and Youth provides a support service for teachers specialising in digital technology in teaching and learning. It offers advice and supports to schools on digital learning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology in education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.

The digital strategy for schools to 2027, and its associated implementation plan, is underpinned by funding of €200 million over the course of the strategy, as committed to under the national development plan. The funding allocation model is provided for in the NDP and commits to funding issuing over the period of the plan, to be applied by the Department for the digital strategy duration, which is to 2027 for the current strategy. Including the most recent grant, a total of €135 million of the €200 million committed to in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year, it is anticipated that issuing €35 million in 2025 will enable the balance of €65 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.

This funding demonstrates the Government's ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment.

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