Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, primary and secondary schools, respectively, that require students to have an iPad for learning instead of traditional textbooks. [42504/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, it should be noted that, under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day to day management of schools. This includes decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools which are a matter for the Boards of Management and principal of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community, including parents, when planning for the introduction of digital technologies. This includes the introduction of devices for students, with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made.

From the 2024/25 school year, a new question has been included for post-primary schools in the School Data Collection Survey, the text of which is “Are parents of children in your school asked to purchase or provide digital devices (tablet or laptop computer)? (YES/NO)".

All post-primary schools have completed the survey for the 2024/25 school year, with 36 DEIS schools responding yes to that question. A similar question is not included in the survey for primary schools, and it would be unusual for primary schools to have device policies in place that require parents to purchase devices.

Oide-Technology in Education is the area within my Department's support service for teachers specialising in digital technology in teaching and learning. It provides advice and supports to schools on digital technologies in teaching and learning and digital learning planning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology infrastructure for education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.

I recently announced €35 million in funding under the Digital Strategy ICT Infrastructure Grant Scheme, to support digital learning in schools. This funding has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. Through the ICT Grant, and the Minor Works grant schemes, schools are directly funded for their ICT infrastructure. Schools have the autonomy to determine which infrastructure to implement, including software and devices, in accordance with their digital learning plans. This can include the provision of loan schemes for devices as needed.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, and its associated implementation plan, is underpinned by funding of €200m over the lifetime of the strategy, committed to under the National Development Plan (NDP). Including the funding recently issued by my Department, to date a total of €135 million of the €200 million committed to in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025 will enable the balance of €65 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy. This funding demonstrates the ongoing commitment to support schools to embed the use of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 does not mandate or prescribe the use of particular infrastructure in teaching and learning. The strategy is concerned with the deeper embedding of digital technologies in education, to develop digital literacy and competency, critical thinking, and to enhance collaborative learning. It is not merely about replacing physical textbooks and resources with digital versions accessed via a digital device.

To assist schools, the OGP and HEAnet, as well as my Department, have established frameworks of providers of digital devices including tablets, PCs and laptops, with appropriate specifications, agreed pricing, and levels of service, as well as providing framework management. Schools are encouraged to avail of these frameworks which will enable them to comply with procurement requirements and achieve agreed, transparent, pricing.

I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. As referenced, in 2017, a circular letter issued to schools with measures to be adopted to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs including such ICT devices.

That circular also instructed schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier. This circular specified that wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment, etc.).

The Circular provides that schools should also consult with parents on their views and suggestions on cost reduction initiatives. Schools should provide parents with a list of all required items and indicate the likely costs of these required items at best value stores. Where an exclusive supply arrangement applies, it should be reviewed regularly and tendered for in accordance with procurement requirements.

The Education Plan 2025 commits to reviewing this circular and a working group will be established in 2025.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, primary and secondary schools, respectively, that require students to have an iPad for learning instead of traditional textbooks. [42505/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the outset, it should be noted that under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day to day management of schools. This includes decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools which are also a matter for the Boards of Management and principal of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community, including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made.

From the 2024-2025 school year, a new question has been included for post-primary schools in the School Data Collection Survey that schools must complete through the Schools Online Claim System platform, as follows: “Are parents of children in your school asked to purchase or provide digital devices (tablet or laptop computer)? (YES/NO)".

All post-primary schools have completed that survey for the 2024-2025 school year, with 137 non-DEIS schools responding yes to that question. That question is not included in the survey for primary schools, and it would be unusual for primary schools to have device policies in place that would require parents to purchase same.

Oide-Technology in Education (the area within my Department's support service for teachers specialising in digital technology in teaching and learning, formerly PDST-TiE) provides advice and supports to schools on digital technologies in teaching and learning and digital learning planning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology infrastructure for education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.

I recently announced €35 million in funding under the Digital Strategy ICT Infrastructure Grant Scheme to support digital learning in schools. which has now issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. Through the ICT Grant, and the Minor Works grant schemes, schools are directly funded for their ICT infrastructure, with schools having the autonomy to determine which infrastructure to implement, including software and devices such as tablet devices, in accordance with their digital learning plans. This can include the provision of loan schemes for devices as needed.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy). Including the funding recently issued, to date, a total of €135 million of the €200 million committed to in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027. This funding demonstrates the ongoing commitment to support schools to embed the use of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 does not mandate or prescribe the use of particular infrastructure in teaching and learning, and it is concerned with the deeper embedding of digital technologies in education, to develop digital literacy and competency, critical thinking, and enhance collaborative learning. it is not merely about replacing physical textbooks and resources with digital versions accessed via a digital device.

To assist schools, the OGP and HEAnet, as well as my Department, have established frameworks of providers of digital devices including tablets, pcs and laptops, with appropriate specifications, agreed pricing, and levels of service, as well as providing framework management. Schools are encouraged to avail of these frameworks which will enable them to comply with procurement requirements and achieve agreed, transparent, pricing.

I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. As referenced, in 2017, a circular letter issued to schools with measures to be adopted to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs including such ICT devices.

That circular also instructed schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier. This circular specified that wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.).

The Circular provides that schools should also consult with parents on their views and suggestions on cost reduction initiatives. Schools should provide parents with a list of all required items and indicate the likely costs of these required items at best value stores. Where an exclusive supply arrangement applies, it should be reviewed regularly and tendered for in accordance with procurement requirements.

The Education Plan 2025 commits to reviewing this circular, with a working group including a representative from the National Parents Council will be established in 2025, with consultation with children and young people also to commence thereafter.