Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which broadband is available at primary and second level schools throughout the country; his plans, if any, to extend such availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23624/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All post primary schools will be connected with 100Mbit/s by the end of 2014. As a result of the most recent framework that has been put in place the number of service providers to the Schools Broadband Programme for schools has been increased from 6 to 14 and this has led to a greater availability of improved services being made available for schools, most of the new providers are small wireless operators. Over 95% of primary schools availing of a service from school's broadband programme: 64% DSL; 32% Wireless; 2% Satellite; and 2% Cable. There have also been a small number of primary schools connected by UPC with 100Mbit/s connections.

Of the wireless schools 67% would be on connections of 8Mbit/s or higher, with the remaining schools on connections of between 2Mbit/s and 6Mbit/s. Those schools on DSL are on connections of up to 24Mbit/s. However, depending on the quality of the copper and the distance of the school from the local exchange the speed a school receives can be as low as 2Mbit/s. Approximately 111 schools are receiving connection of 2Mbit/s or less. There are also 74 schools still on satellite connections. Due to ongoing tendering competitions the number of schools on these very slow connections are continually being reduced.

This Department has also entered into discussions with DSL providers in order to ensure that schools can avail of the roll out of fibre on Eircom's wholesale network. This should also lead to greatly improved speeds being made available to schools.