Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason there are major delays at a school (details supplied) in County Cork in providing broadband Internet access through a company (details supplied) as the service provider; and if the NCTE will act on this matter. [6470/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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From inquiries made by my officials of the NCTE's support service desk, I understand that the problem with the broadband service to the school referred to by the Deputy has now been resolved and that this position has been confirmed with the school by the NCTE service desk.

As regards the roll-out of broadband nationally, some 4,000 schools are getting broadband connectivity under the project being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three-year, €18 million joint Government /IBEC-TIF, Telecommunications and Internet Federation, fund to fund local connectivity at school level.

The broadband connectivity is being provided via a schools national broadband network supported by HEAnet, which will provide managed Internet access, email, security controls and content filtering. A broadband support service desk is being managed by the National Centre for Technology in Education to assist schools with advice and information on the roll-out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity within the schools network. Six companies have been awarded contracts for the provision of access connectivity with a further company contracted to provide a broadband router at school level, where appropriate.