Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) does not have adequate broadband capacity and speed to deliver the curriculum; the action he will take to ensure adequate broadband capacity and speed for the children and teachers of this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47671/17]

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 recognised primary and post primary schools. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme.

Significant improvement has been made in recent years, with the number of primary schools with access to broadband speeds of greater that 30mbs having increased from less than 100 in 2012 to over 1000 in 2017. In Dublin, some 70 school in 2012 had access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater, now some 360 schools in Dublin have access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater.

Under the current programme the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. A recent drawdown from the Framework of Providers of Broadband Services saw some 1,100 primary schools awarded download speeds of 30Mbps or greater (the baseline download speed required under the National Broadband Plan). Some 900 of those schools have now been connected with the balance to be in place by the end of 2017.

The policy of this Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and financial constraints.  Broadband capacity can vary due to geographical location and local infrastructure, and thus impact on the service that can be provided.

The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, and as noted access to high speed broadband is one of the indicators identified in the Digital Strategy Action Plan. An interdepartmental working group has been established to determine how best to address broadband connectivity to primary schools in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in the context of the National Broadband Plan and the Intervention Strategy, and proposed industry provision.

In the case of the school referred to be the Deputy, the Schools Broadband Service Desk and the current Service Provider have reviewed the service provided, and they advise that the school is on the best broadband solution available at present. The school was upgraded in 2016 to an e-fibre solution and can receive speeds of up to 90mbs.