Written Answers. - Research Funding.
Ivor Callely
Question:
229
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the funds, if any, available to schools to initiate or further enhance information and communication technology development; the contact name, address and telephone number to obtain further information on each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25572/99]
Funds are available to schools to initiate or further enhance information and communication technology development as follows:
Schools IT 2000.
In May 1998 all schools in the free education system at primary and post-primary levels received grants as follows: ordinary schools at first and second levels: £2,000 plus £5 per pupil; ordinary schools with one or more special classes received an additional grant of £1,500 plus £20 per head for each special class pupil; special schools received a grant of £3,000 plus £20 per pupil.
These grants are available in the case of the establishment of new schools and-or special classes in ordinary national schools where the grant has not been issued already. Details of grants may be obtained from the Department of Education and Science, IT Unit, Tel. (01) 8734700.
I recently announced details of an additional round of allocations under the schools IT 2000 programme. These grants amount to £9.77 million and are focused on a number of areas and, in particular, special needs, guidance and staff support.
Career Guidance Service in Second Level Schools.
The equipment needs of the career guidance service in each second level school recognised for grant purposes under the free education scheme, will be met through the provision of grant aid on the following basis: schools with up to 999 students: £1,500; schools with 1,000 or more students: £3,000.
In addition, Qualifax and Ectis guidance software will be distributed to every school by the NCTE as soon as possible.
Software Grant for Primary and Second Level Schools.
In order to support the integration of ICTs into teaching and learning, every school recognised for grant purposes under the free education scheme, will be provided with grant aid of £4 per pupil for the purchase of educational software. Schools may opt to spend some of the grant on hardware if this is more appropriate to local needs. The NCTE will, through the ScoilNet web- site, provide all schools with wide-ranging advice on software purchase. The ScoilNet site will also include software reviews compiled by experienced teachers.
ICT Grant for the Remedial and Resource Teacher Service in Primary Schools.
In order to assist the integration of ICTs into the education of children served by remedial teachers and resource teachers for children with disabilities, a grant of £700 will be made available to support the work of each of the teachers concerned. The grant may be used for the purchase of relevant hardware and-or software items e.g. literacy and numeracy software for the remedial and resource teacher service.
ICT Grants to Meet the Needs of Individual Special Needs Pupils.
In 1998 I established a fund of £0.25 million to enable the provision of ICT equipment for individual special needs pupils. I propose to increase the fund to £0.5 million in 1999. The additional funding will be used to fund equipment for individual special needs children into 2000.
Staff Development in Primary and Second Level Schools.
Every primary and second-level school recognised for grant purposes under the free education scheme, will be provided with grant aid of £3 per pupil for the purchase of ICT hardware and-or software to supplement and support the very extensive ICT skills development programme for teachers being delivered through the NCTE. The equipment purchased from this grant aid may, for example, be deployed in staff rooms or loaned to individual teachers who are undertaking formal ICT training courses.
School Administration in Second Level Schools.
In order to support the further development of computerised school administration systems in second level schools, a capital grant of £2 per student will be issued to every second level school subject to a minimum level of grant aid of £500 per school.
In addition to the above, every second level school will be provided with a grant of £350 to be used towards support and other running costs related to computerised school administration systems.
Continuation of School Integration Project.
A limited number of additional projects under SIP will be funded. These originate from schools which were unsuccessful in their original SIP applications but have further developed their project proposals within the past 12 months with the assistance of the NCTE. Also included is a special additional project piloting the application of CAD software in a group of schools running the leaving certificate vocational programme.
Guidelines on terms and conditions of all the above grants will be notified to every school by the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, DCU, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Tel. 1850 70 40 40.
Other Department Funding for Information and Communication Technology Development in Schools.
Funds are provided for equipping computer rooms where a new school is being built or where an existing school is being extended. In the case of vocational schools, where a computer room is equipped under this provision, a grant of 100% is paid for the equipment provided. Information may be obtained from the Department of Education and Science, Post-Primary Building Unit, Tullamore, County Offaly. Tel. (0506) 21363.
Schools providing the restructured leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP and-or the leaving certificate applied, LCA programme each receive grants for equipment, mainly computer equipment. The range of grant support is as follows: a once-off general equipment maximum grant of £13,000 for the purchase by schools of computer and communications equipment needed for the implementation of the restructured LCVP or the LCA or both; a once-off maximum grant of £4,000 for the purchase of equipment related to the teaching of the subjects selected by the school from the LCVP vocational subject groupings; a once-off maximum grant of £1,000 for start-up resources for schools providing the restructured LCVP; a once-off maximum grant of £4,000 for the purchase of equipment related to the teaching of the subject specialisms provided by the school under the LCA; an annualper capita resource grant of £125 per pupil for schools providing the LCA.
Full details of the scheme are contained in the guidelines for schools – equipment grants for schools providing the restructured leaving certificate vocational programme and-or the leaving certificate applied, January 1997, which is available from the Department of Education and Science c/o Aileen Finucane EO, Post-Primary Administration 2, Hawkins House, Dublin 2. Tel. (01) 8892049.
A scheme is in operation to provide 100% grants for equipment, mainly computers, for use by special needs pupils in mainstream second level schools. The rate of grant in respect of any pupil is the cost of the equipment, subject in general to a maximum grant of £3,000. In certain circumstances, where the nature of the equipment warrants it, a higher grant may be considered. Full details are available in Circular M11/95, available from the Department of Education and Science, Post-Primary Administration Section 2, c/o Aileen Finucane EO, Hawkins House, Dublin 2. Tel. (01) 8892049.
Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund.
The sum of £2 million has been allocated under the scientific and technological education, investment, fund to meet the costs of furnishing and equipping laboratories in selected PLC centres for international teleservices and electronic technician courses. These courses are in new areas where emerging skill needs have been identified and are, therefore, eligible for assistance under the fund which is not generally applicable to schools in the PLC sector. The equipment specification for these laboratories has a significant ICT component and expenditure is authorised by the further education section of my Department. Information is available from Liam Keenan HEO, Further Education Section, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. Tel. (01) 8892432.
