Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the finding in Education at a Glance 2006 that Ireland ranks 20th out of 30 countries in terms of ratio of students to computers in schools; if she will resource schools to compete in the information age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34116/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to be note that the indicator on access to and use of ICT in the Education at a Glance report is based on the data from its PISA survey of 15 year-old students in Spring 2003. Progress has of course been made in our school's ICT programme since then.

While Education at a Glance reports that there was one computer for every 9 post-primary students in Ireland in 2003, a census of school ICT facilities carried out in May and June of last year by the National Centre for Technology in Education found that by then there was one computer for every 7 post-primary students.

As the Deputy will be aware, major investment has also been provided for developing school networks and bringing broadband to our schools in recent years.

I am aware of the benefits that good use of ICT can bring to our children's education and will bear this in mind in considering what areas should be the future priorities for the ICT in Schools Programme.