Vol. 492 No. 2
150 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the technical backup expertise he will make available to schools to ensure the success of the IT 2000 programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13750/98]
As stated in Schools IT 2000 I have established the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, to implement the various elements of Schools IT 2000. A director, four coordinators and other ancillary staff have been appointed and are putting in place the necessary support infrastructure to ensure the success of Schools IT 2000. This infrastructure will include the necessary technical backup expertise advisers.
I also intend to appoint ten IT advisers in the current year and a further ten early in 1999. Part of their duties will be to provide technical backup at local level to schools. These IT advisers will be assigned duties, under the direction of the NCTE, on a regional basis and they will be linked to education centres. The technical backup needs of schools as regards IT will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the NCTE.
I would also point out to the Deputy that many schools will receive technical support as part of the purchasing arrangements which they will be able to undertake with the recent devolved grants which I announced.
