Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1014: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will publish her proposals for a comprehensive programme for computers in primary schools; the budgetary allocation for 2007 for such a programme; the expenditure by her Department in 2007 under this heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1861/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to implementing a comprehensive Schools' ICT Strategy. This strategy will be underpinned by the investment of €252m which is provided for in the National Development Plan 2007-2013. I appointed a Strategy Planning Group to advise me on the prioritisation of measures under the planned investment over the period of the NDP. Among the issues which the new strategy will address are the upgrading and renewal of hardware, the provision of software and digital content for learning, teacher professional development, curriculum development, the maintenance of the national broadband network for schools and technical maintenance and support requirements.

I have now received the report of the Strategy Planning Group and I will shortly be publishing the report, together with my implementation plan. This new investment will build on the investment made in the integration of ICT into teaching and learning since the introduction of the ICT in Schools Programme in 1998.

As the Deputy will be aware, the recent priorities under the Programme have been the development of schools' internal networking facilities and the provision of broadband connectivity for schools, which my Department has pursued in partnership with the Telecommunications and Internet Federation within IBEC. Over 140,000 training places have been provided for teachers to improve their ICT skills and assist them to integrate ICT into their teaching practice, while ICT has been included within the pre-service training provided by our teaching training providers. Scoilnet has been developed as a comprehensive resource for teachers and students and a range of relevant digital content has been created specifically to complement the curriculum.

The provisional figure for expenditure by my Department under the ICT in Schools Programme in 2007 is some €11.5m. Specifically in relation to primary schools, I would also mention that since 2006, the Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School properties includes ICT equipment within the range of approved school expenditure. Disadvantaged primary schools are also benefiting from the ICT Grant Scheme for DEIS Schools from the Dormant Accounts (Educational Disadvantage) Fund.