Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the percentage of schools that have broadband access; and if he is satisfied with this amount. [33443/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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A joint industry/Government fund of €18 million was established for the Broadband for Schools Programme to resource the provision of high speed broadband connectivity to all primary and post primary schools in the country by end Autumn 2006, at no cost to the schools themselves. The initiative was established to address the resourcing of broadband access to schools in the shared belief that accelerated provision of broadband access to schools is a prerequisite to the establishment of a knowledge based economy and that such a development is socially, economically and commercially desirable.

To date 95% of all primary and secondary schools have broadband installed; the aim is to complete the outstanding 5% of schools as soon as possible.

This is a crucial strand in the strategy of integrating ICT into teaching and learning and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources' wider vision of promoting the use of broadband technologies in local communities around the country.