Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's expenditure on ICT in schools in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [34330/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The “Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment” was published in October 2015.  The Strategy sets out a clear vision that 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.  I recently launched the Digital Strategy Action Plan for 2017, detailing the actions that will be progressed throughout the year.

The ICT in Schools Programme addresses four broad areas, namely:

- the provision of essential ICT infrastructure and networking within schools

- continuous professional development in ICT for teachers

- integrating ICT within the curriculum and providing curriculum relevant digital content and software.

- the provision of access to broadband connectivity to schools

Under this programme, in 2009 and 2010 some €92m was issued to schools to address ICT Infrastructure requirements - €22m to primary schools in 2009, a further €24m to primary schools in 2010, and €46m to post-primary schools in 2010.

A one-off grant scheme to support the implementation of the Design Communication and Graphics syllabus was put in place in 2015, with over €7m in funding issued to some 450 post-primary schools.

In January 2017, I announced ICT infrastructure grants for primary and post-primary schools with €30m issued to schools in the latter part of December 2016/early 2017. This represents the first tranche of funding released of the €210m committed to support the implementation of the Strategy over the period. Further information on the grants is available here

My Department funds the broadband for schools programme and PDST-Technology in Education who promote the embedding of ICT in teaching and learning, through CPD for teachers and other supports. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the expenditure on these aspects in each of the years 2008 to 2017 is being compiled currently and will be issued to the Deputy as soon as possible. 

In addition, all new school buildings, and school extensions projects (where additional classroom accommodation is being delivered) receive an ICT Infrastructure grant per classroom, issued by the Planning and Building Unit of this Department.