Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 6

Written Answers - Computerisation Programme.

Enda Kenny

Question:

403 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the primary schools in Counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon supplied with computers under his Department's scheme; the progress, if any, in relation to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

All national schools in Counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon recognised by my Department are included in the Schools IT 2000 programme. In May of this year I announced the provision of £15 million in grant-aid for the purchase of computers under the technology integration initiative of schools IT 2000. All recognised national schools in the State including those in the above-mentioned counties received grants as follows: ordinary schools: a basic grant of £2,000 plus £5 per pupil; special schools: a basic grant of £3,000 plus £20 per pupil.

All ordinary national schools with one or more special classes received an additional grant of £1,500 plus £20 per pupil in the special class or classes. I have also made provision for a special allocation of £250,000, on a national basis, to provide ICT hardware for individual children with special needs in mainstream classes.

I am also aware that, in many cases, the grant provided by my Department has been added to significantly at local level by local groups, companies and businesses.

Telecom Eireann under the "Information Age Schools" initiative, as a major partner in Schools, IT 2000, has provided each school, including all national schools in the above-mentioned counties, with a multimedia computer and is currently providing each of them with an Internet connection. Telecom Eireann has provided a total of 4,200 computers nationwide under this initiative. Each school is acquiring free installation of a telephone line, free rental of the line for two years, and a number of hours free usage of the line per week for Internet access.

A current provision of £3 million has been made this year to provide support for Schools IT 2000 including the provision of training in the use of ICTs in education for teachers. A programme of teacher professional development has already been put in place which has provided courses for at least 9,000 teachers nationally to date, a very large number of these being primary teachers, as part of the Teacher Skills Initiative. The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is working in collaboration with education centres to ensure appropriate provision at local level.

Under the Schools Support Initiative work is nearing completion on the development of ScoilNet, an online support service, and all schools will be informed when it comes on line. ScoilNet will also develop a countrywide network in association with the education centres. ScoilNet will be an excellent resource as regards the provision of information, advice and support to all schools on Schools IT 2000 and also on educational ICTs issues generally.

The School Integration Project (SIP), which will promote whole school development in relation to ICT integration, is an essential element of Schools IT 2000 and will involve at least 40 schools nationwide, including a significant number of primary schools, initially. The NCTE has developed a list of priority areas and detailed criteria for the evaluation of project proposals under the SIP. These have been circulated to all schools with an invitation to submit proposals.

A number of innovative ICT pilot projects involving private sector investment in IT 2000 are in place within the education system. These projects are concerned with software-hardware development and applications and involve a growing number of primary and second-level schools.