Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the mini-tender held in August for broadband for schools; the winners of contracts; the relevant schools; the relevant values of each contract and the minimum technical performance criteria in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47006/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were re-tendered last year under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring that satisfactory solutions would be awarded to schools.

Where schools were awarded slow DSL solutions or satellite solutions, the contracts were for one year only and the schools were re-tendered for last August. In total 414 schools were re-tendered by way of a mini competition under the framework that was set up in 2012. Of those 414 schools, the Minister has awarded improved solutions to 295 schools. The list of awards is in the following table. The Minister is not in a position to announce the value of these contracts due to commercial sensitivity. Officials are currently reviewing the situation in relation to the remaining 119 schools and a further mini competition is likely in the new year in relation to some or all of these schools.