Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the ratio of students to computers in schools here; the funding necessary to provide a computer for every four pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13802/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The latest statistical data available to my Department are from the ICT school census undertaken by the National Centre for Technology in Education in autumn 2002. Based on that information, there was an overall pupil to computer ratio of some 9:1. To reduce that ratio to 4:1 based on the pupil numbers in that year would have required an increase of some 110,000 computers. Assuming an illustrative cost per computer of €700, the cost of providing 110,000 computers would be in the region of €77 million. Furthermore, every €50 variation in the illustrative cost results in an overall variation of €5.5 million. However, this estimate, which is based on historical data in 2002-03, is purely indicative. The NCTE is undertaking a new ICT school census next month.