Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1417: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools with broadband connection, itemised on a county basis; the amount expended on bringing broadband to primary and secondary schools for each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29938/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department is engaged in 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 €18m joint Government — IBEC/TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Fund to provide local broadband connectivity to schools. The broadband connectivity is being provided via a Schools National Broadband Network supported by HEAnet, which will provide managed Internet access, email, security controls, content filtering and other services designed to enhance the educational process. A Broadband Support Service Desk has also been established to assist schools with advice and information relating to the roll-out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity within the schools network. The total cost of the project for the three year period will be in the region of 30m.

Following a public tendering process, contracts were finalised in 2005 with six Service Providers for the provision of local access connectivity to 3,925 schools and with a further Provider for the installation of a broadband router at school level where appropriate. The count of the number of schools countenanced under this arrangement has since been amended to take into account the effect of a number of school closures, amalgamations and new opening and stands currently at 3,936. As of Friday 22nd September last some 3,684 of these schools were fully installed with broadband under this process, some 50 others had a partial installation in place. Of the remainder, some 19 schools, as yet to be accommodated under the programme, had a locally organised broadband connection. In addition to the above some 72 school have been provided with broadband connectivity separately by my Department under two pilot projects.

A full breakdown of schools with broadband connectivity by county is appended for the Deputy's information.

Expenditure on the Schools Broadband Programme commenced in 2004 and the year-year breakdown to date on the overall provision of local connectivity, schools routers, the National Network and Service Desk is as follows:

2004 — €1.036m

2005 — €6.675m

2006 — €7.082m (to date).