Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the schools in the Dublin South-Central electoral area which will be affected by the decision to cut grants for purchasing equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37738/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, 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 with some €200m having been invested since its introduction, these Reports set out a substantial agenda to be pursued to fully integrate ICT into teaching and learning in our classrooms.

When I launched these reports, I acknowledged that we faced significant challenges in implementing some of the recommendations made in these Reports given the current economic situation. While I have not been in a position to provide specific grants to schools under the ICT in Schools Programme for the purchase of ICT equipment this year, I am committed to investing in this area as resources permit.