Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's strategy to support digital skills and highspeed broadband in primary schools; if her Department's attention has been drawn to issues in relation to a school (details supplied) that are impacting the ability of the school to access highspeed broadband; the measures that are being taken to alleviate these obstacles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48720/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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. My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, with at least 98% of schools included in this scheme providing connectivity to these schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure.

My Department is now implementing a project to provide high speed broadband connectivity through the Schools Broadband Programme for primary schools outside of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, and where commercial provision is neither available nor planned. That project is supported by funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and is managed by HEAnet on behalf of my Department. My Department is committed to providing all primary schools with high speed broadband in 2023 through the National Broadband Plan, commercial provision, and the NRRP project. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on a 12mbs dedicated wireless service, however the school is included in the next tender for services under this high speed broadband programme which is due to issue shortly, with high speed connectivity to be provided early in 2023.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published on the 17th April and has at its core the aim of empowering schools to further embed digital technologies across their teaching, learning and assessment. It sets out how the development of digital skills are supported in schools and builds on the key achievements under the previous strategy. It aligns closely with the EU Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 and also takes into consideration the National Digital Strategy ‘Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework as well as other relevant policies and strategies.