Vol. 482 No. 6
434 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the provisions by Telecom Éireann for low-cost Internet access for schools across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18549/97]
Telecom Éireann announced on 16 September that it would provide funding to enable all schools at first and second level to be connected to the Internet and to have a certain amount of free access-connect time each week. The arrangements to facilitate connection to the Internet and the provision of free access periods to schools are currently under discussion with Telecom Éireann. Details will be published before the end of November.
I wish to assure the Deputy that no provisions have been made to Telecom Éireann in respect of its investment in the Government's initiative on Information and Communication Technologies (ITCs) in education.
The Telecom Éireann investment in this initiative is an excellent example of innovative and substantive partnership with the education sector on ICTs. It is expected that other public and private sector organisations will also invest in the Government's initiative once the policy framework document on ITCs in education is published by my Department in the coming weeks.
