Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to increase funding for information communication and technology equipment and maintenance for schools; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of funding for ICT in schools; his further plans to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36639/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I published the ICT Strategy Group Report, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools 2008-2013, together with the evaluation report undertaken by my Department's Inspectorate, ICT in schools, in July. While acknowledging the progress made since the ICT in Schools Programme was first launched some ten years ago, these Reports set out a substantial agenda to be pursued to fully integrate ICT into teaching and learning in our classrooms.

While we face significant challenges in implementing some of the recommendations made in these Reports given the current economic situation, I am committed to investing in this area as resources permit. As recommended by the Strategy Group, the role of the individual school ICT co-ordinator will be prioritised along with support for school principals. Nationwide seminars on e-Learning for these personnel will be held and handbooks on planning and implementing e-Learning in Schools are in preparation. A professional development course for ICT co-ordinating teachers on the development of e-Learning Plans will also be available.

The National Centre for Technology in Education will collaborate with the various school support agencies to integrate ICT into the delivery of all support services. New online and blended ICT professional courses will be offered and ICT will be integrated into all curriculum development activities. My Department will shortly issue a tender for the next round of the Schools' Broadband Programme and the range of services available to schools will be expanded. A free website hosting service will be provided to schools, which will provide a unique '.scoilnet.ie' website address to schools. Substantial digital resources are currently being accessed on the web portal Scoilnet and the NCTE will expand and develop further digital content for teaching and learning.