Financial assistance to schools in acquiring information technology hardware and software is provided to schools through a variety of funding arrangements from my Department.
Under the school administration project a total of £609,507 was expended in 1995. The breakdown between hardware and software and between school sectors together with the number of schools is set out in the following table. It is intended to provide a further £500,000 for information technology equipment for schools under this project in 1996.
Grants for equipment, mainly information technology, for schools offering the restructured leaving certificate vocational programme amounted to £1,683,565 in 1995 comprising £1,280,848 for secondary schools, £122,717 for community and comprehensive schools and £280,000 for vocational schools. A total of 114 schools received payments during 1995. A breakdown between hardware and software and schools sector is not readily available. The total provision for equipment in 1996 is £4,571,000. In the case of the schools offering the leaving certificate applied an annual resource grant in respect of equipment and materials is provided, which is calculated on the basis of £125 per leaving certificate applied pupil. A review of the financial support for schools providing the leaving certificate applied is currently taking place and will be completed shortly.