Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of funding available to primary and secondary schools for the purchase of information technology equipment; the amount allocated to schools for the purchase of IT equipment for each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29939/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The ICT in Schools Programme commenced in 1998 following the publication of Schools IT 2000. The objective of the Programme is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve computer literacy and to acquire the necessary skills for participation in the Information Society. By the end of last year, over €170m was invested in the Programme since its commencement including some €114m in Capital supports. In terms of support to schools for the purchase of IT equipment and the development of their infrastructure (capital), almost €80m has been expended in capital grants direct to schools in the years 2000 to 2005, as follows:

2000 — €2.6 million

2001 — €26.7 million

2002 — €23.3 million

2003 — €6.2 million

2004 — €18.7 million

2005 — €2.3 million.

A further €7.1m has been expended in indirect school infrastructural support on Innovative Projects, Training and Broadband support costs.

The major focus for my Department under the ICT in Schools Programme at the moment is the roll-out of broadband connectivity to all recognised 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 fund local connectivity at school level. The broadband connectivity is being provided via a Schools National Broadband Network supported by HEAnet, in order to provide managed Internet access, email, security controls and content filtering. A broadband support service is being managed by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) to assist schools with advice and information relating to the roll-out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity within the schools network. The overall costs of the Schools Broadband Access Programme, including the initial set-up and ongoing costs over the three years, are in the region of €30m.

My Department is currently examining the future priorities for the ICT in Schools Programme. This work is being complemented by a census of ICT infrastructure which was undertaken by the NCTE and by an evaluation of the Impact of ICT on Teaching and Learning which my Department's Inspectorate is currently conducting.