Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of his Department's investment programme to improve information technology in schools; and if his Department has any proposals to improve routine maintenance of information technology in schools. [35024/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The new Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision for the role of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools. The Strategy is focussed on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy.

Implementation of the Strategy is now underway.  Planning, oversight and consultative structures have been established. The Strategy recognises that schools require public investment in their ICT equipment and infrastructure and accordingly a fund of €210m to support the implementation of this Strategy is available beginning with an investment of €30m in the next school year (2016/2017) rising to €50m a year towards the end of the Strategy.

The Strategy provides for investment in teacher training, development of digital content and resources for teaching and the provision of information and guidance to schools. Improving the quality of connectivity at primary level is also a key objective of the strategy.

The funding needs of the Strategy will be considered in the annual budgetary process.