Vol. 498 No. 5
209 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be allocated to National Centre for Technology and Education for the Ballymun computers in schools project in view of the fact the budget available to the promoters of the project is exhausted and no further money will be available until such time as some form of confirmation is forthcoming from the NCTE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28003/98]
The schools in the Ballymun computers in schools project have received funding as follows under Schools IT 2000: a total of £57,000 has been issued by my Department to the 11 schools in the project in May this year under the technology integration initiative. Each of the 11 schools has also received an Internet-ready multi-media computer under the Telecom Eireann information age schools initiative which is a major element of Schools IT 2000. In addition each school has received free installation of a telephone line and will have free rental for two years with five hours free usage per week for connection to the Internet. Telecom Eireann has offered each school free Internet service for two years through Tinet — the Telecom Eireann Internet service provider.
The co-ordinator of the Ballymun computers in schools project is discussing with the NCTE a programme of further training in ICTs during the coming year for those involved in the project. This training will be funded through the NCTE under the teacher skills initiative of Schools IT 2000.
