Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Schools have been given broadband connectivity under the schools broadband access programme, which my Department has implemented with the support of the Telecommunications and Internet Federation. The National Centre for Technology in Education has provided a programme of continuing professional development for teachers, with more than 144,000 training places having been availed of by primary and post-primary teachers since 1998. Disadvantaged schools are benefiting from the €3.4 million ICT grant scheme for delivering equality of opportunity in schools plan, DEIS, schools from the dormant accounts fund and a new fund of €1 million is now being made available to assist some of the most disadvantaged DEIS schools achieve digital school status.

We must ensure our students develop digital competence to fully participate in our rapidly changing world. However, the integration of ICT into our teaching and learning encompasses more than the acquisition of ICT skills. When used effectively, ICT enriches teaching and learning across the whole curriculum and I assure the House that I am committed to promoting the integration of ICT into teaching and learning, as resources permit.