Written answers

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

Department of Education and Science

Computerisation Programme

10:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the level of provision of information communication technology in schools regarding funding of broadband, computer equipment, software, hardware and Internet use among students here. [5049/07]

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the provision of information and communications technology in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5051/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 202 together.

As the Deputies will be aware the recent priorities for investment under the ICT in Schools Programme have been developing schools internal computer network facilities and ensuring schools have broadband access. In relation to networking, schools were invited to submit proposals for the development of their networking capability in June 2004 and grants totalling some €23m have since issued to schools.

The roll-out of broadband connectivity to all recognised schools is being undertaken in partnership with industry, in the context of the joint Government — IBEC — TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) three year Agreement 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.

This investment builds upon the earlier Government investment in schools' ICT infrastructure. The number of computers in our schools continues to increase as is reflected in the 2005 census of ICT infrastructure in schools published by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE). The census was conducted during the first half of 2005 and is the fourth in a series that began in 1998. The 2005 census shows improved pupil to computer ratios at both primary and post-primary levels, finding one computer for every 9 children at primary school and one computer for every 7 students at post-primary.

The NCTE continues to provide some 10,000 training places annually to meet the specific needs of teachers in their use of ICT, including technical courses, subject specific courses, and internet, web design and digital media courses. The NCTE also provides advice to schools on the range of issues arising with the integration of ICT into teaching and learning. Its Scoilnet portal provides access to a range of curriculum relevant digital content and the NCTE is considering the acquisition of a range of on-line reference materials.

A further €25m has been provided in grants to some 500 post-primary schools to enable them to upgrade their facilities to enable them to provide the new Technology syllabus and the revised Design and Communication Graphics syllabus at Leaving Certificate level, with effect from September 2007.

Considerable investment has been provided for the ICT in Schools Programme to date and the ICT facilities in our schools have improved considerably. Nevertheless I am conscious of the need for further investment to ensure that we are realising the full potential of ICT to improve the learning experience for our young people. To that end, I intend to publish a new ICT strategy in 2007 covering the period of the National Development Plan to 2013. The National Development Plan contains a provision of €252m for ICT in schools, the essential purpose of which is to advance the embedding of an e-Learning culture in teaching and learning in our schools.

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