Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that currently require children to use ipads or tablets, or that will require them to do so from September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49100/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The introduction of tablet devices by a school is an operational matter for the Board of Management of the school. My Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives and therefore does not have a record of the number of schools introducing tablet devices.

New technology that impacts on student teaching and learning should only be introduced by schools following consultation with the school community including parents. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Management.

The PDST-Technology in Education which promotes and supports the integration of a high quality ICT infrastructure into learning and teaching for schools, has published advice sheets which cover a wide range of areas relevant to ICT in education including. At present there is an advice sheet in relation to Tablet PCs which provides advice on such areas as what tablets can offer a school, educational considerations, purchasing considerations, software and Tablets. The PDST TIE does not provide advice on particular brands of tablets as the decision depends on the particular circumstances in a school.