Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that do not have broadband due to lack of such services in their area; the number of primary schools that have 5Mbps or less; the reason primary school principals are left with no Internet or Internet breaking down as a consequence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7051/18]

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 and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme.

The policy of my 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.

Under the current primary schools programme the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. Some 250 Primary schools are currently on speeds of 5mbs or less, this represents just 7% of primary schools nationwide. Some 1,100 primary schools have been upgraded to download speeds of 30Mbps or greater (the baseline download speed required under the National Broadband Plan). This represents more than one third of all primary schools. This is a significant improvement over recent years, given that less than 100 primary schools were on those speeds in 2012. Further schools are likely to be upgraded to those speeds in 2018, through EIR's 300K Rural Deployment commitment.

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.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools in counties Roscommon and Galway that do not have broadband due to lack of such services in their areas; the primary schools in counties Roscommon and Galway that have 5Mbps or less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7052/18]

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 and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. 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 Galway/Roscommon, no school in 2012 had access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater, now some 44 schools in Galway/Roscommon have access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater.

The policy of my 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.

In counties Galway and Roscommon the number of schools on 5mbs or less is some 23 schools, while virtually all primary schools in both counties are currently connected under the Schools Broadband Access programme, some schools may choose not to participate in this scheme – they may have a relationship with a local provider which they prefer to maintain.

The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, and 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.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department refuses to fund the cost of alternative broadband suppliers to primary schools in areas in which the preferred supplier cannot provide proper broadband or the coverage is better from an alternative supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7053/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the current primary broadband programme, my Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. As the Deputy will be aware the schools broadband programme operates subject to procurement regulations through a publicly procured Framework of Providers of Broadband Services. This Framework of Providers of Broadband for Primary schools was renewed in 2017, and it was open to all providers to apply to become members of that Framework.

At post-primary level, all schools are connected to the Department's 100Mbp/s programme, operated and managed by HEAnet.

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 primary broadband scheme is based on existing infrastructure, and the providers on the Primary Broadband Framework access this infrastructure to deliver the service to the schools.

The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. An interdepartmental working group has been established to determine how best to provide enhanced broadband connectivity to primary schools in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to the National Broadband Plan and the Intervention Strategy, and proposed industry provision.