Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 295 of 28 January 2009, if he will confirm whether the Mayo Education Centre has the services of a communication technology advisor for 2009. [5729/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The position regarding the ICT Advisory Service operating from the regional Education Centres is that following the Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Service for Schools undertaken by my Department, the ICT Advisor posts have not been renewed. Accordingly, there is no ICT Advisor post attached to Mayo Education Centre. This decision reflects the view that each school must plan and execute its own policy for ICT integration across the curriculum and that the resources utilised by the ICT Advisory Service would be better employed focussing supports for ICT leadership and change within each school. The National Centre for Technology in Education is working closely with the support services supported by my Department and the role of the school's ICT co-ordinating teacher, with the support of the school principal, is being prioritised as central in the provision of ongoing ICT support and advice to teachers. The NCTE continues to provide advice and support to schools on the integration of ICT into teaching and learning and to provide a range of ICT continuing professional development courses for teachers, through the Education Centres.