Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that lack broadband services, by county. [31044/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme, the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary, post-primary and special schools. All post-primary schools are provided with 100Mbp/s connectivity.

At primary level, some 98% of schools are included in the Schools Broadband Programme, with some 1,100 schools on download speeds of 30Mbps plus (the target set out in the National Broadband Plan) by the end of 2017. Under the current programme, the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, within the parameters of the programme and in compliance with procurement and contractual obligations. 

The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment, sets out the Department's vision for embedding ICT in teaching learning and assessment in primary and post-primary schools. A key priority of the Strategy will be to address any broadband connectivity issues experienced by primary schools. An interdepartmental working group is considering this matter at present. In this regard, my Department will also collaborate with the Department of Communications Climate Action and Environment on this issue, having regard to the National Digital Strategy.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to broadband service that is up to 30 Mbps by county. [31045/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to a broadband service that is between 30 Mbps and 70 Mbps by county. [31046/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post primary schools that have access to a broadband service that is between 70 Mbps and 150 Mbps by county. [31047/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to a broadband service that is between 150 Mbps and 360 Mbps by county. [31048/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to a broadband service that is in excess of 360 Mbps by county. [31049/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 to 192, inclusive, together.

Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme, the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary, post-primary and special schools. The overall policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with technical solutions available in the market and within required financial parameters. All post-primary schools have high speed connectivity under the 100Mbp/s programme.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of schools broadband connection speeds by county is being compiled currently and will be issued to the Deputy as soon as possible.