Vol. 564 No. 5
176 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the information technology grant has not been paid to schools in County Clare to date; when it will be paid; the amount due to each primary school in County Clare; and if the can provide this information in tabular form. [9701/03]
188 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the information technology grant has not been awarded to schools in north Kerry to date; when it will be awarded; the amount expected to be awarded to each primary school in north Kerry; if he can provide this information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9787/03]
207 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the information technology grant has not been paid to schools in south Dublin to date; when it will be paid; the amount expected to be paid to each primary school in south Dublin; and if he will provide this information in tabular form. [9909/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 188 and 207 together.
Substantial funding has been made available to schools in recent years to promote the use of information and communications technologies in teaching and learning and to prepare students for participation in the knowledge society. However, my Department is subject to budgetary constraints in 2003 and this will limit the amount of ICT capital grants which can be provided to schools this year. My Department will be contacting schools in this regard in the near future.
The Government remains fully committed to supporting schools in the promotion of ICT skills and applications in teaching and learning. To this end, the National Centre for Technology in Education is currently conducting a nationwide census of all schools on behalf of my Department in order to determine progress achieved in meeting ICT needs and objectives as well as resource requirements going forward. The findings of this census, which will be available by mid-year, will inform future policy and funding priorities in this area having regard to available budgetary resources.
