Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

As I mentioned, in some years more money was provided and one year none was. I am trying to make sure that every year, schools know they are getting that grant. Over the lifetime of the strategy, €200 million has been made available. Some €50 million of that funding was provided in April 2022; zero funding was provided in the 2022-23 school year; then there was a further €50 million in April 2024; and €35 million was provided this year. From May 2025, there will be a further €35 million provided later this year and the remainder is just over €30 million and will be provided next year. That will be the full €200 million over the lifetime of the strategy, appreciating there have been variations in when and how much money has been provided.

What I am committing to with the new national development plan, in which there was a further commitment for the ICT funding and strategy, is that it will be paid on an annual basis in December-January every year and that schools will have certainty around that. I appreciate there has been a variation in how the funding has been provided but it is important to acknowledge that the €200 million that was committed to will all be paid out. There is a commitment to make sure schools receive that. What I hope to see and what I am looking for the Department to do next year, is an assessment of what schools actually have. Having invested this money, not just from this strategy but from the previous one, it is to assess what schools have, where they need upgrades and whether schools need new equipment or whether we are getting to the stage where the equipment just needs to be upgraded and we are investing to make sure the technology is up to date and the schools have exactly what they need.

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