Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools that do not have access to high speed broadband. [1513/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum.

All post-primary schools and some special schools are now on high speed broadband through the Department's High Speed Broadband Programme, managed by HEAnet.

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.

The policy of my Department through the Schools Broadband Access Programme is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €15m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. As the deputy is no doubt aware broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent on local infrastructure which can impact on the service that can be provided in individual schools.

The Department reviews the availability and quality of services and upgrades schools under the programme when the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. Currently, over 1,400 primary schools have been awarded 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 which is a significant improvement in 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 and industry provision.