Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools here which do not have broadband internet services; the number of primary and post-primary schools which do not have broadband; the percentage of primary and post-primary schools with broadband internet services on a county basis; the breakdown of the provision of broadband for schools in Dublin, Meath, Tipperary and Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32527/06]

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 in the context of a Government â€" IBEC/TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Agreement 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 â'¬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.

Roll out of the local connectivity and router installation commenced in June 2005. The installation process has two stages starting with the local broadband connectivity installation (involving DSL, satellite or wireless technology) followed by the installation of a high-speed router and circuit and acceptance testing. A school then must confirm that it has an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in place and it must indicate which content filtering option it requires prior to the activation of the schoolâ€TMs connectivity via the Schools National Broadband Network.

As of 2nd October, 3,759 schools have had their local connectivity installed and of these 3,751 have had their router capability installed and tested. The number of schools that had confirmed their AUP status and selected their content filtering option was 3,503. Of the remaining 177 schools, some 23 schools have refused the service offered under the arrangements, 44 installations have been deferred due to school building programmes, 35 schools are in the process of being re-awarded (or awarded in the case of new schools) and a further 75 school installations are being addressed at present.

It should be noted that a number of the schools that have not been connected under the Schools Broadband Access Programme will have their own independent broadband connnectivity.

I should also mention that a further 72 schools have had broadband access provided under the Hermes and Advanced Deployment programmes and therefore currently have active broadband connections independent of the above mentioned National Broadband Network. The percentage of primary and post-primary schools with broadband connectivity by county (based on the Schools Broadband Access Programme installations and the Hermes and Advanced Deployment programmes) and the breakdown of the provision of broadband for schools in Dublin, Meath, Tipperary and Cork is illustrated in the table for the Deputyâ€TMs information.