Written answers

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Department of Education and Skills

Telecommunications Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when it might be expected that high speed broadband facilities will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the number of students at the college, the urgency arising from the concern of the parents and the need to provide modern high speed telecommunications to the educational sector; if the school may be considered as an optimal site for a pilot of the upcoming phase in the north Kildare region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13541/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A working group comprising representatives from my Department, HEAnet and the Department of Communications and Natural Resources have recommended a strategy for the roll out of 100mbps to post primary schools. The national roll-out will be completed over three stages with 200 schools being connected by September 2012, a further 200 being connected next year and the remaining 250 schools being connected in 2014. The first 200 schools to be installed are located in areas which are served by poorer performing technologies viz., Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

The next 200 schools will be selected once work is complete on the re-tendering of schools under the current schools broadband programme and once the first 200 schools have been connected to the 100Mbps scheme. Therefore I am not in a position at present to state when St Wolsten's Community College will be installed other than the fact that all post primary schools will be installed by the end of 2014. Any issues arising in the course of the roll out will be referred to the Joint Departmental Steering Group in the first instance for guidance.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the schools in County Kerry that will benefit from the roll-out of broadband; and when it is expected that broadband will be provided to them. [13577/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A working group comprising representatives from my Department, HEAnet and the Department of Communications and Natural Resources have recommended a strategy for the roll out of 100mbps to all post primary schools. The national roll-out will be completed over three stages with 200 schools being connected by September 2012, a further 200 being connected next year and the remaining 250 schools being connected in 2014. The first 200 schools to be installed are located in areas which are served by poorer performing technologies viz., Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

The next 200 schools will be selected once work is complete on the re-tendering of schools under the current schools broadband programme and once the first 200 schools have been connected to the 100Mbps scheme. Therefore I am not in a position at present to state when all the post primary schools in County Kerry will be installed other than the fact that all post primary schools will be installed by the end of 2014. A list of all post primary schools by County can be viewed on the Department of Education website. Any issues arising in the course of the roll out will be referred to the Joint Departmental Steering Group in the first instance for guidance.

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