Written Answers. - Computerisation Programme.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
419
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the schemes and supports available from his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department to schools, businesses, community groups and individuals, to promote information technology including (i) greater awareness of relevance, (ii) to develop skills and (iii) have access to computers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22106/00]
The following schemes and supports promoting information and communications development are available either directly from my Department or from agencies under the aegis of my Department.
Schools IT 2000 Project
All new recognised primary schools and all new second level schools recognised for grant purposes under the free education scheme are eli gible for grant aid under the Technology Integration Initiative (TII) of Schools IT 2000 as follows:
(f2>a) Phase 1 Grants:
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 new 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.
(f2>b) Phase 2 Grants:
Ordinary and Special Schools: A grant of £7 per pupil to facilitate both the purchase of educational software for classroom use and the purchase of ICT equipment for teacher professional development
Primary Schools: A grant of £700 in respect of each full-time remedial teacher and resource teacher for children with disabilities for the purchase of relevant ICT equipment.
Second Level Schools: Grant aid to support the equipment and Internet connectivity needs of the career guidance service – £1,850 for schools with 799 or less pupils and £3,700 for schools with 800 or more pupils – and development of computerised school administration systems – £2 per pupil for equipment.
The above relate to new schools only. However, existing primary and second-level schools not previously having a special class(es) and setting one up for the first time are also eligible for a grant of £1,500 plus £20 per pupil in the special class(es) as set out above. In addition, existing primary schools are eligible for a grant of £700 for ICT equipment in respect of each newly appointed full-time remedial teacher or resource teacher for children with disabilities.
A special fund is also in place to cater for the ICT needs of individual special needs pupils, including those who are fully integrated into ordinary classes. Applications for funding are submitted by schools to the special education section of my Department and are assessed on the basis of priority of need.
ICT equipment is provided to support the work of each full-time teacher in the visiting teachers for travellers service. This scheme is being extended in the current year to cover the work of visiting teachers for children with disabilities.
With regard to teacher training, the National Centre for Technology in Education has, to date, provided over 50,000 training places in a range of – mainly introductory – ICT training courses for teachers under the Teaching Skills Initiative element of Schools IT 2000. Expenditure under this initiative will amount to over £2 million in the current year. There is also a significant information technology dimension to a wide range of in-service provided in the context of curricula and school programme changes which covers the use of IT as a tool for learning in particular subject areas. Funding is also provided for complemen tary training proposed by various providers to meet particular needs.
Other schemes for Primary and Special Schools
My Department operates a devolved grant scheme for minor works to national school properties. Payment is made to all primary schools on an annual basis at a rate of £3,000 per school plus £10 per pupil. The scheme is intended to cover minor improvements to school buildings and grounds, replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of furniture and the provision of floor coverings and blinds. If there are no outstanding works to be undertaken at the school under these headings, the school authorities may expend the grant on items of equipment such as computers, overhead projectors and photocopiers. Subject to compliance with the terms of the scheme, expenditure of the grant is entirely at the discretion of the school authorities.
The special education section of my Department also makes funding available for the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment, for individual 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 2000 are £845,000.
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. The unit also responds to needs presented by schools generally for computer equipment on the basis of priority of need. Funding for this purpose is provided from the second-level capital allocation for school buildings.
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.
An amount of £640,000 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 2000 provision for this scheme is £370,000.
Further Education Section
Education and training programmes in the further education sector, including the Youthreach, VTOS and senior traveller training programmes incorporate Information Communications Technology (ICT) related modules as an integral part of the course.
To conform with EU requirements all PLC programmes must include a minimum of least 40 hours training mainly in new technologies. In addition, approximately 80 PLC centres throughout the country are providing a variety of dedicated ICT courses. Funding for these courses and the necessary equipment is provided to vocational education committees as part of the normal running costs of the programmes.
Adult Education Sector
Recognising the growing importance of computer literacy for adults generally, my Department will provide for a national adult basic ICT skills programme as part of the Back to Education Initiative. This programme will be the first national campaign in IT training for Irish adults.
As proposed in the White Paper on Adult Education, the Government will also provide for a specific capital allocation for the further education sector. This will increase on a phased basis to a level of at least £10 million per annum. The funds will be used for investment in ICT facilities and ICT networks, and upgrading of equipment; purchase where necessary of additional facilities for adult education use and development of centres for adult education. In supporting arrangements under the Back to Education Initiative, the Department will provide pro rata funding for tuition, equipment, materials and technician support, especially in the area of maintenance of IT equipment and of other educational aids.
The first report of the expert group on future skills needs highlighted emerging skill shortages in computer software, electronic and technician training, and in language skills for the teleservices sector. On foot of this the Government is committed to a major investment programme aimed at increasing the supply of software graduates and technicians allied with investment in the PLC sector to promote training in teleservices and languages.
Other
Third level institutions provide a wide range of courses in the information technology and computing areas. Some of these courses are specifically designed to meet business training needs. Some schools have also developed links with local businesses and other groups in their local community and support them by providing access to IT courses or facilities on school premises. Some local businesses also, of course, support the schools in their area by providing them with donations of equipment and services, including technical assistance in some cases.
The Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Eireann operates a resource centre for language teachers – Irish, French, German, Italian etc. One of the functions of the resource centre is to offer advice to language teachers on developments in the area of the use of new technologies for language learning.
