Written answers

Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Department of Education and Skills

School Facilities

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to replace the current HEA net broadband connection to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a service provider will be awarded a contract by her Department to supply the school with a new highspeed fibre broadband connection; when the school will avail of fibre broadband; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13211/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma 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 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 2023. 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. This requires broadband services to be contracted to those providers following a mini-competition. My officials are preparing a mini-competition currently which will include this school in order to upgrade to the NBI infrastructure. The school will be contacted in due course to arrange installation to the high sped connection.

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