Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount invested by her Department in new school computers in County Kildare in the past five years; the amount invested in the rest of the country; her Department's plans to invest in new computer equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35631/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The ICT in Schools Programme commenced in 1998 following the publication of Schools IT2000. 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), over €77m has been expended in capital grants direct to schools in the years 2001 to 2005. A further €6m has been expended in indirect school infrastructural support on Innovative Projects, Training and Broadband support costs over the same period.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to County Kildare is not readily available.

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.

I have also announced the provision of €40m to schools to address Health and Safety issues and the introduction of the new Technology syllabus and the revised Design and Communication Graphics syllabus at Leaving Certificate level.

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.