Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 44: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his recent announcement on information and communications technology for schools includes a commitment to spend €252 million as envisaged under the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44283/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that €252 million is being invested in information and communications technology, ICT, in schools under the national development plan between 2007 and 2013. The national development plan also required that a detailed ICT strategy be published by my Department to target investment appropriately. The report of the strategy, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools 2008-2013, was published by my Department in July 2008. Investment in ICT in schools has continued since the ICT in schools programme commenced in 1998.

In 2007 and 2008, some €12 million was invested in up-skilling teachers in ICT skills, providing curriculum-relevant digital content and software and facilitating the broadband connectivity of schools. Equipment grants of €2.3 million were provided to new post-primary school building projects in 2008, while €2.2 million was provided to 72 primary schools when newly constructed schools or large-scale extensions reached practical completion. Grants of €17 million have been issued to 500 post-primary schools since September 2007 to upgrade their facilities to provide the new technology syllabus and the revised design and communication graphics syllabus, T4, subjects.

By the end of this year, I will have provided funding in excess of €45 million for ICT in schools, including the €22 million grants package recently announced for primary schools, equipment grants of up to €6.2 million for schools where construction work was completed this year or last year and funding for broadband, teacher development and the provision of curriculum digital content. Earlier this year, I established a joint advisory group to explore with industry possible approaches to implementing the recommendations of the strategy group's report.

The recommendations of the advisory group have been published in its report, Smart Schools = Smart Economy, which the Taoiseach launched on 16 November last. The advisory group report recommends an initial investment of €150 million over the next three years. I am committed to making funding available for ICT in schools over that time. Some €22 million in grants was issued to primary schools last week as a first step, with the priority on ensuring that there is a teaching computer and digital projector in every classroom. Funding for post-primary schools will be made available early in the new year. The total amount of funding to be made available for ICT equipment next year is being considered as part of the overall capital allocation to be agreed by Government.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am satisfied with that reply.