Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that are broadband enabled; the percentage of primary and post-primary schools that are not broadband enabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22180/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are 739 post primary and 3336 primary schools connected to the Schools broadband network. In addition to this there are 78 post primary schools on the 100mb piloy project and 9 primary schools on the Hermes project.

4% of post primary and 3% of primary schools are not connected to the schools broadband network. I understand that many of the schools who have declined a connection from the Department have made their own internet connection arrangements. There is no obligation on schools to avail of a connection provided by the Department and schools are free to source their broadband from the market should they so chose. All of these schools are also free to avail of a connection provided by the Department anytime in the future.

However I would encourage schools to avail of an internet service under 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. Access to resources such as on-line versions of Britannica and World Book are also only available through the Schools Broadband Network.