Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of support being developed to support students in accessing digital devices for educational purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33062/21]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have received assistance in accessing digital devices in the previous educational term; the types of devices provided in tabular form; the level of support envisaged for the new term beginning in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.

On 22 July 2020, the Government approved a €168 million package of supports for the further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. €15 million of this was earmarked for devices to support disadvantaged students.

The decision to allocate funding in this area responded to concerns raised by higher and further education providers, and by student representatives, regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning as a result of COVID-19. €10 million was provided to the higher education sector and €5 million to the further education sector. A total of 21,336 laptops were procured under this scheme by the higher education institutions and ETBs. A total of at least 16,526 students have now directly benefited from support in accessing ICT devices, with more to benefit as the scheme is still continuing.

From within the overall total of 21,336, 16,668 laptops were procured via a bulk order placed by HEAnet on behalf of higher education institutions and ETBs. The type of laptop procured via the bulk order was a mix of Dell 5410 i3 and i5 (plus a small number of i10), 8GB RAM, 256 SDD, 14” 1366x768 res screen, with 5 year next business day support and warranty. Devices were also pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat reader and some additional software from Microsoft.

The remainder of the laptops were procured directly by the higher education institutions and ETBs in accordance with the needs of their student cohort. The Department does not have the specifications of the devices procured directly.

There is some scope to support additional students in the 2021/22 academic year from the pool of devices that have already been procured – whether in relation to devices that have not yet been distributed or those that will be returned by students who are concluding their studies.

My Department is currently considering the appropriate supports for the next academic year in the context of specific costs and particular issues arising from the impact of the pandemic on the tertiary sector and students.