Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage her Department is at to appoint a retail service provider to complete broadband connections to schools, including a school (details supplied); when schools will be able to avail of broadband; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7869/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on the best available service of 12mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the school.

The school referred to by the Deputy is in the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, for which implementation is underway. My Department is engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on this implementation to prioritise school connectivity, with all schools in the NBP to be provided with high speed broadband infrastructure by the end of 2022. My officials have confirmed with colleagues in the Department of Environment. Climate and Communications that this school has recently been connected to the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) infrastructure.

The Schools Broadband Programme operates subject to procurement regulations through a publicly procured Framework of Providers of Broadband Services. A process to establish a new Framework of providers has recently concluded with Contract signing underway. As soon as contracts are signed, my Department will immediately issue a new mini competition for schools broadband services and this school will be included in that tender for upgrade to the NBI infrastructure as soon as possible.