Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the discussions which he had with representatives from companies (details supplied) during October 2008 when it is reported that he discussed proposals to provide computers in the school system by way of leasing them from information technology companies in accordance with the national development plan's pledge to invest €252 million in information technology for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39239/08]

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, these Reports set out a substantial agenda to be pursued to fully integrate ICT into teaching and learning in our classrooms.

Having regard to the current economic situation, we face significant challenges in implementing some of the recommendations made in these Reports. However, I am committed to investing in this area as resources permit.

The technology industry equally advocates greater integration of ICT into teaching and learning in our schools and I am anxious to explore with the industry how it can work with my Department to achieve this common goal. I have met with representatives of Apple, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft recently and will be meeting with other technology companies and the representative body, ICT Ireland, over the coming weeks. As the Deputy will be aware, Tif, the Telecommunications and Internet Federation has been involved as a partner with the State in the Schools Broadband Access Programme and there are many instances where individual companies are working in partnership with individual schools or projects. In this context, Microsoft Ireland has concluded a Memorandum of Agreement, which extends its Partners in Learning Licensing Agreement to all disadvantaged schools participating in the DEIS programme and which will enable these schools to access very low cost desktop software and operating systems.