Written answers

Tuesday, 12 December 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Equipment

11:00 am

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the situation regarding the information communication technology programme for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo and to the fact that children in this school achieved international awards; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that the school fostered a community programme with the local community for use of the information technology equipment and that the recent whole school evaluation, while recognising the outstanding work in which students were involved, recommended that the IT equipment be completely refurbished; if her attention has also been drawn to the fact that the cost is approximately €15,000; if, in view of the achievements of the students of this school, she will make a decision to upgrade and refurbish the equipment in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42717/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the two major investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme over the past two years have been the provision of grant aid to schools to develop their computer networks and the establishment of the Schools Broadband Network and the provision of broadband access to schools. In this context, the school concerned received a networking grant of €2,200 in December 2004 and has had its broadband connectivity installed.

The school concerned has written to my Department seeking financial support to update its ICT equipment. I am aware of the benefits that good use of ICT can bring to our children's education and I am conscious of the need for further investment to realise the full potential of integrating ICT into teaching and learning. I intend to publish a comprehensive new ICT strategy in 2007 covering the period of the new National Development Plan to 2013.

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