Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her engagements regarding zero rate educational websites to support students and families during the Covid-19 pandemic; the actions of her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19276/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools with the continuity of learning. This guidance to schools was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners. The guidance included provision to support the continuity of teaching and learning in response to the Covid-19 restrictions for those learners unable to engage with online learning. This guidance is available at gov.ie.

The provision of zero rating by the telecommunications industry for educational websites is led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Comreg. My officials have engaged with IBEC-Telecommunication industry Ireland (TII) to provide information on the relevant sites to be included under the zero rating to support students and families during the current pandemic. I am advised that the zero rating continue to be maintained by a number of telecoms providers and also that there is a range of unlimited mobile data packages on offer by the market.

Last October, a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, issued to enable schools to mediate the curriculum safely for all learners in a Covid-19 context. These documents have been complemented by Circular 0074/2020 which required all schools to put in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure that they are prepared to continue to support teaching and learning in the event of a partial or full closure of schools arising from Public Health advice. Schools were asked to make provision for learners who may not be in a position to access online facilities or technology and to adapt approaches accordingly. Schools have introduced a range of strategies and measures to ensure that the needs of these pupils are catered for, including pupils who have limited access to technology or whose parents are not in a position to support their learning.

As part of the €210m investment programme underpinning the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools, my Department provided €100m in grant funding to schools to address their ICT needs during 2020. Schools were advised that they can use this funding to support the continuity of teaching and learning This can include the purchase of ICT devices including laptops, etc. that can be shared with students and teachers who do not have access to devices, essential learning platforms and other ICT infrastructure to support the provision of remote learning.

ICT grant funding issues directly to schools, as schools are best placed to identify the needs of their learners and to meet those requirements. Many schools have used this funding to put in place a device loan scheme to support families.

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