Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to improve the use of technology at primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43061/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The integration of ICT into teaching and learning is supported through the ICT in Schools Programme. This programme addresses four main areas which need to work together to build capacity in this domain: Deployment of ICT infrastructure; Professional development for teachers, in the pedagogical use of ICT; Identifying and sharing suitable online content and resources; Broadband for schools.

Between November 2009 and November 2010, my Department distributed €46m in ICT grants directly to primary schools. Schools were asked firstly to equip each classroom with a teaching computer and digital projector. Once that baseline is in place schools can use remaining funding for other educational ICT requirements.

To help schools make the most of their investment, we have delivered some strategic national supports in tandem, including, ICT courses and elearning seminars for teachers through their local education centres, an internet safety programme and a portal for collaborative development and dissemination of curriculum-relevant digital content - Scoilnet.ie