Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 632: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the promise to place Irish schools at the top of international tables in terms of the use of information technologies in curriculum delivery; the number of students using substandard, obsolete computers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7013/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government promised to drive forward the schools IT programme in the agreed programme for Government of June 2002. This commitment is being adhered to by the Government, as evidenced by the roll out of broadband connectivity my Department is currently pursuing to all recognised schools. This project is 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 project builds on my Department's recent investment of over €20 million in the development of school networks, providing further evidence of the Government's commitment in this regard.

In parallel with these developments a range of teacher training courses has been developed by the National Centre for Technology in Education and made available to teachers via the regional education centres. In addition, a regionally based ICT advisory service, involving the deployment of an ICT adviser in each of the 21 full-time education centres, has been developed to provide advice and support to school authorities and teachers in relation to pedagogical and technical issues.

The National Centre for Technology in Education issued questionnaires for its census of school ICT infrastructure early last summer. The census follows similar exercises undertaken in 1998, 2000 and 2002 and addresses a range of areas, including the extent of ICT equipment, networking and Internet access, ICT planning and priorities, professional development and technical support. A report on the 2005 census is being finalised and I hope to be able to publish the results shortly.