Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the levels of information and communication technology facilities and broadband services being provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13; if she will ensure that the school is provided the optimum level of ICT facilities and services as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16520/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the recent investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme have been the provision of networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme. In this context, the school concerned received a networking grant of €6,000 in 2004. The school had its broadband connectivity installed in October, 2005 however, the school must confirm that it has an Acceptable Use Policy in place and it must indicate which content filtering option it requires prior to the activation of its connectivity via the Schools National Broadband Network. My officials have advised that the school only returned its AUP in May 2007.

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 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 embed an e-Learning culture in teaching and learning in our schools.