Written answers

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Department of Education and Science

Telecommunications Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is possible for a secondary school to choose its own Internet supplier under schools internet broadband programme. [7598/10]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not possible for schools to choose their own service provider under the Schools Broadband Programme, as public procurement procedures require that Internet Service Providers are selected for the Schools Broadband Programme through a competitive, technology-neutral, central procurement process. My Department is currently awarding contracts under the second phase of the Programme and the indications from the recently completed evaluation of tenders are that this will mean enhanced bandwidth for schools. My Department is managing the transition period between the phasing out of the current service providers and the connections to new providers to get schools switched over as soon as possible.

Furthermore, in general, I am not in favour of schools availing of an internet service outside of the Schools Broadband Programme, as under the Programme connectivity to the internet is routed through a National Broadband Network, which has been developed by HEAnet (the National Education and Research Network provider). HEAnet has established a Network Operations Centre to channel and control the broadband access to schools, and it provides centrally managed services for schools such as security, anti-spam/anti-virus and content filtering. A national helpdesk has been established to interface between the network, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the schools, and to provide schools with on-going advice and assistance. This helpdesk is managed by the NCTE. Schools who use a service provider not contracted to the Department do not have access to these services, protections and support.

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