Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

A further €50m in grant funding also issued in late 2021, under Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan supported by the NextGenerationEU facility, for schools to implement interventions to support learners at risk through the digital divide.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

Decisions as to how to provide for digital technologies in schools, including any leasing arrangements, are a matter for the Boards of Management of each school.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that was allocated to primary and post-primary schools under the Digital Strategy for Schools in the 2021-2022 school year and in the 2022-2023 school year; her plans to allocate the remainder of the €200 million announced by her under this strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31645/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m for the 2021-2022 school year issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year – no later than January 2024.

As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options available to schools that require to purchase ICT equipment for September 2023. [30762/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

In addition, my Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide,

Details of the Grant Scheme for EU NRRP Funding to schools to address the digital divide, and learners at risk of educational disadvantage which can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/circular/b4fea-grant-scheme-for-eu-nrrp-funding-to-schools-to-address-the-digital-divide-and-learners-at-risk-of-educational-disadvantage/