Written answers

Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Department of Education and Science

Computerisation Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the grants that have been given to schools in the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas to help them purchase computers in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9204/08]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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While the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, the two recent investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme have been the provision of networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme.

Schools were invited to submit proposals for the development of their networking capability in June 2004 and grants in excess of €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.

Grants have also been provided 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.

Disadvantaged schools are benefiting from the ICT Grant scheme for DEIS Schools from the Dormant Accounts (Educational Disadvantage) Fund.

ICT funding has also been provided under the school building programme in connection with designated school building projects and primary schools can purchase ICT equipment from the monies received under the Minor Works Grant Scheme.

While the ICT facilities in our schools have improved considerably, 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 of our students. The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to implementing a comprehensive Schools ICT Strategy, which will be underpinned by the investment of €252m as 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 received the report of the Strategy Planning Group and I will shortly be publishing the report, together with my implementation plan.

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