Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Each school is responsible for the development, management and maintenance of its IT systems and there is no requirement to notify difficulties to my Department. The Department recognises the need for the provision of technical support to schools but funding is not available due to the overall resource constraints being faced at this time.

To help schools upgrade their ICT Infrastructure, my Department has provided €92 million in devolved grants since November 2009 under the ICT in schools programme. This funding was to be used for the installation of a digital projector and teaching computer in every classroom, after which schools could use remaining funds to buy other appropriate ICT hardware and software.

The Department funds a national support helpdesk for the schools broadband service, incorporating content filtering and anti-virus protection. In addition, it has deployed national procurement frameworks for schools, covering digital projectors, computers and printers, and providing a three-year next-business-day on-site warranty as standard.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I am aware of the initiative on rolling out broadband. One of the difficulties facing schools is the speed at which such a service can be accessed. Another difficulty can arise if an IT teacher retires because one must then buy in such expertise, which puts pressure on existing resources. It is increasingly happening and the issue is being discussed by boards of management which are trying to surmount the difficulty. Supports are provided for through departmental Estimates but when we move into the school structures the supports are not there. I do not know how to get around that problem. There is probably a lot of IT expertise in the community, including people who are doing internships. That may not be a long-term suggestion but it could be examined in terms of addressing this difficulty. I do not know how the Minister or the Department can deal with it.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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That is a very helpful suggestion which I will explore.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There has been a major IT investment in primary and secondary schools over the past four or five years in particular. In schools that I have had the opportunity to visit, it is great to see good suites of hi-tech equipment. Will the Minister consider the possibility that progressive VECs could have a role in providing support services for our primary schools? It is already happening in my own constituency where VECs provide information technology services to voluntary secondary schools and primary schools. With the forthcoming rationalisation of the VECs, perhaps they could take on those additional responsibilities, thus justifying an enhanced role for them not just as providers of second-level and further education, but also as providers at primary level.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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That suggestion is very much in the spirit of the reforms for the VEC sector that we have in mind.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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It so happens that in two of the schools I visited in Wexford that were complaining about cuts to their education budget - concerning resource teachers for Travellers - they said they would like to have had an extra teacher rather than the IT facilities they received. I cannot be sure if it is the same all over the country, but when the IT materials was being given out in the good times, schools in Wexford were happy with the level of IT. They even said it was a bit on the generous side at times. They are killed now that they are losing resource teachers, which will have a much bigger impact.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I note what the Deputy has said.