Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she is concerned at the level of investment in information and communication technology in schools which has led to only 2% of schools with access to high speed broadband; her plans to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41604/10]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Under my Department's schools broadband programme, connectivity to the Internet is routed through a national broadband network, developed by HEAnet, the national education and research network provider. HEAnet controls the broadband access to schools and it provides centrally managed services for schools such as security, anti-spam, anti-virus and content filtering. Access to resources such as on-line versions of Britannica and World Book are also only available through the schools broadband network.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has secured broadband services on behalf of schools and under the resultant contracts the best available connections, within resources, were provided. However, in some cases only satellite services were available. Since the commencement of the roll-out of phase two in 2009 of the schools broadband programme, there has been more than a 50% increase in bandwidth capacity. This is due to improved bandwidth speeds being made available to schools and the substantial reduction in the number of schools which are connected via satellite. Schools are offered satellite connections only where no alternative was offered during the procurement process. Should a better solution become available from the contractors over the lifetime of the contracts, schools may be migrated to the new solution. In addition, my Department is working with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on a pilot project using 100 megabits broadband connectivity to 78 post-primary schools.

It is important to remember that broadband is just one element of a wider policy on the use of ICT in schools. Since 1998, almost €300 million has been invested in the ICT in schools programme. The programme has addressed four broad areas: the provision of essential ICT infrastructure and networking within schools; the provision of access to broadband connectivity to schools; up-skilling teachers' ICT skills; and integrating ICT in the curriculum and providing curriculum-relevant digital content and software.

As part of the Government's commitment to ICT in education, the Smart Schools = Smart Economy report was published in November 2009. This report builds on the 2008 strategy group report, and contains relevant recommendations in the context of how best to realise the potential of ICT use in schools. Some €22.3 million in ICT grants was provided to primary schools in 2009 and a further €24 million of funding to primary schools has just been announced. In addition, funding of almost €21 million was recently provided to post-primary schools.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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?

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Schools are offered satellite connection only where a better alternative is not available to give them higher speed access. Fixed wire and wireless broadband deliver faster speeds for schools. Of the almost 4,000 schools availing of the school broadband service, only 150 schools are now on satellite and this number continues to reduce with the roll-out of faster broadband speed connectivity to the schools in question.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In her initial response, the Minister of State mentioned the grants provided last week for IT provision in schools. With regard to teacher training, teacher competence in this area and continual professional development, has the Minister of State examined how teachers avail of IT and how they get themselves up to speed in imparting knowledge to students? It continues to be a criticism that teachers are not trained to deal with the subject of information technology.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The education centres are providing good service in upskilling teachers in ICT training. This is manifested-----

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Are there standards or statistics to measure this service?

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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-----in many of the centres around the country. As the first step in implementing the recommendations of the report on broadband, a total of €22 million in ICT grants was issued to primary schools in 2009 and a further €45 million was also issued to schools. In tandem with the funding for schools there is also funding for teacher training. I will get that figure for the Deputy if she requires it.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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What is the level of uptake among teachers for such professional development in this area?

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I can provide the Deputy with figures at a later date about the numbers partaking in the upskilling services for ICT training.