Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 6

Written Answers - Computerisation Programme.

Ivor Callely

Question:

222 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the funds, if any, available to secondary schools to initiate information technology development; the additional funds available to enhance and advance information technology development; the procedure necessary to avail of these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25737/98]

Ivor Callely

Question:

223 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the funds, if any, available to primary schools to initiate information technology development in their schools; the additional funds available to enhance and advance information technology development; the procedure necessary to avail of these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25738/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together.

Funds are available to schools from my Department either to initiate or further enhance information and communication technology (ICT) development under a number of schemes as follows:

1. Schools IT 2000 Project

All recognised primary schools and all second-level schools recognised for grant purposes under the free education scheme are eligible for grant aid under Strand I of the technology integration initiative (TII) of Schools IT 2000 as follows:

Ordinary Schools: A basic grant of £2,000 plus £5 per pupil in ordinary classes.

Special Schools: A basic grant of £3,000 plus £20 per pupil.

All ordinary schools with one or more special classes are eligible for an additional grant of £1,500 plus £20 per pupil in the special class or classes.

The grants concerned were issued to all qualifying schools in May of this year and new schools are also being grant aided as they come into operation.

I have also put in place a special fund of £250,000 to cater for the ICT needs of individual special needs pupils, including those who are fully integrated into ordinary classes. Applications for funding from this provision are submitted by schools to the special education section of my Department and are assessed on the basis of priority of need.

In addition to the above, primary and second-level schools selected for participation in the school integration project (SIP) element of Schools IT 2000 will be eligible for additional funding for ICT equipment and for a reasonable amount of teacher release time for those teachers involved in the project. The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), which I established to implement the various elements of Schools IT 2000, has invited applications from schools and will be announcing the results of this process shortly. At least 40 "lead" schools will be selected for inclusion in the SIP.

2.Other Scheme for Primary and Special Schools

The special education section of my Department makes funding available for the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment, for pupils with special needs. All applications for such funding are assessed on the basis of priority of need. The total funds available for this purpose in 1998 are £529,000.

3.Other Schemes for Second-Level Schools

The post-primary building unit of my Department supplies computers, printers, peripherals and software in all instances where a computer room is being provided as part of a new school or a school extension. Funding for this purpose is provided from the second-level capital allocation for school buildings. It is not necessary for schools to make special application in this instance because the appropriate arrangements for supply are made with the school by my Department when the relevant building project has been completed. Approximately £1 million will be spent in this area in 1998.

Grants of up to a maximum of £22,000 which are mainly for the purchase of IT equipment, are available to schools on introducing the leaving certificate vocational programme and-or the leaving certificate applied. The leaving certificate applied and leaving certificate vocational programme support services assist schools in the identification and purchase of equipment, which will best meet their individual needs. The Department pays the grant to schools or vocational education committees following this process. The 1998 provision for this scheme is £1,369,000.

An amount of £700,000 has been provided under the school administration project in the current year for the purpose of assisting second-level schools in acquiring information technology equipment and software for administration purposes. Schools are invited to participate in the project by way of letters of offer of equipment or software or, more recently, of grant-aid issued by the IT unit of my Department.

A grant scheme for the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment, for second-level pupils with serious physical and/or communicative disabilities is administered by the post-primary administration section of my Department. Application for the grant is made to the section by school authorities. The 1998 provision for this scheme is £340,000.