Paul Connaughton
Question:69 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he has satisfied himself with the development to date of the education technological fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14971/98]
Written Answers. - Education Technological Fund.
I am very satisfied with the development to date of the Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund.
The fund is a clear statement of this Government's seriousness in addressing key educational issues which impact on our economic performance. I am fully conscious of the need to implement the various projects under the fund with maximum speed and am glad to report that very significant progress has been made to date. To facilitate the earliest commencement of projects I arranged that the first tranche of the fund's provision, i.e. £100 million, be included in my Department's Estimates for this year. This provision is, of course, additional to the normal capital Estimates of my Department.
Over the next two years a further £150 million will be added to the fund which represents the largest ever investment of its type and involves a concentrated scale of building activity never before undertaken in the education sector. The sheer complexity of such an undertaking will, even with the best efforts of all concerned, require an appropriate lead-in time to ensure that we achieve maximum value for the investment.
Already, for example, I have had the pleasant task of joining the authorities of Carlow Institute of Technology at a ceremony marking the signing of a major building contract for over £11 million approved by me under the fund. Also, the Institute of Technology Tallaght, was given approval to proceed immediately with the construction of a major extension, estimated to cost around £12.5 million, and comprising laboratories, lecture theatres and other badly needed facilities. In addition I have given the go-ahead for an investment of £10 million for the upgrading of equipment in the higher education sector.
I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that I have given approval for the allocation of £30 million towards the creation of a minimum of 3,500 additional undergraduate places in the university sector to meet the emerging skills needs in the high-technology sector. The projects in question are at an advanced stage of planning and construction work is expected to start before the end of the year in most cases.
In addition, I have approved an allocation of £15 million for expenditure on the Schools IT 2000 project in 1998. This project will greatly develop the use of information and communication technologies in Irish first and second level classrooms between now and the end of 2001 by means of an integrated programme of technology, training and support provision. I am using £14.1 million approximately of the £15 million investment to support schools in developing their ICT infrastructure and my Department has already issued almost £13 million in the form of grants to over 4,000 first and second level schools. In distributing this grant aid, I have made particular provision for special schools and special classes which cater for children with special needs, including traveller children. The remaining £900,000 approximately of the £15 million will be used to support the purchase of computer hardware and software resources for Education Centres, Schools-Colleges of Education and the Inspectorate of my Department.
In the context of the second-level education system, skill enhancement leading to improved employment prospects is largely met by post-leaving certificate courses (PLC's). A number of post-leaving certificate projects in locations throughout the country are being considered for funding.