Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 20: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary schools that do not have a functioning broadband connection. [23095/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Currently over 97% of all schools are availing of the broadband service. Of the remaining 3% there are 59 schools who have opted out of the scheme and the remaining schools are awaiting installation in the coming months as part of the roll out of new broadband for schools contracts.

At any point in time there will be schools which are part of the schools broadband programme without a broadband connection due to technology problems (e.g. line of sight, building works, phone lines deteriorating) the numbers for which are constantly changing. All faults are resolved in the quickest time possible.

There are a number of schools i.e. 32 which are presently without a connection due to transferring from Smart Satellite System which was discontinued at the end of May 2010 (Smart Satellite was acquired by Digiweb in December 2009). An additional 14 schools which are a combination of new schools and schools where a fault has developed are without connection. In order to connect these schools new equipment i.e. a router, is required. My Department is awaiting delivery of this equipment which is scheduled for the middle of June. There has been a delay in delivery which the suppliers have indicated is due to a component shortage in the industry in general.