Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the schools broadband initiative will be rolled out to all schools; the cost of installing this initiative; the annual running costs of the broadband connections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22998/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A major focus for the Department is the roll out of broadband Internet connectivity to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This project is being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three-year, €18 million joint Government-IBEC-TIF fund. The broadband connectivity is being provided via a schools national broadband network supported by HEAnet, which will provide managed Internet access, e-mail, security controls, content filtering and other services designed to enhance the educational process. A broadband support service is being provided by the NCTE to assist schools with advice and information relating to the roll out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity within the schools network.

Following a competitive tender process, the Department has now finalised and signed contracts with the six companies selected for the provision of access connectivity and with the other company selected for the provision of routers. The schools national broadband network and the service desk have been established and are operational. The initial stages of the roll out of connectivity locally to schools has already commenced and the roll out is due to be completed by March 2006.

The estimated cost of the schools broadband access programme — incorporating the local connectivity at school level, the national schools broadband network and the service desk, including the initial set-up and ongoing costs over the next three years — is some €30 million. Within that context, the estimated full-year running cost of the programme is some €7 million.