Bernard Allen
Question:116 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount allocated by his Department to primary schools for the purchase of computer equipment since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/03]
Written Answers. - Information Technology.
Pat Breen
Question:147 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount allocated by his Department to secondary schools for the purchase of computer equipment since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 147 together.
Since 1997, my Department has provided grants amounting to some €50 million to primary schools and grants amounting to some €30 million to post-primary schools for the purchase of computer equipment. In addition, a range of ICT support services and teacher training programmes have been provided by the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, for which funding of some €40 million has been provided by my Department over the past five years.
As a result, significant progress has been made in developing computer facilities and applications in schools and pupil-computer ratios have improved considerably since the schools ICT programme was initiated in 1998. Data recently obtained by my Department indicate that pupil to computer ratios have reduced in primary schools from 35:1 in 1998 to a current level of just over 11:1 and in post-primary schools from over 16:1 to a current level of 9:1. Moreover, in special schools the ratio has reduced from 9:1 in 1998 to 4:1 at present.
The Government remains fully committed to providing continued support to schools in the promotion of ICT in teaching and learning. The NCTE has recently conducted a nationwide census of all schools on behalf of my Department in order to determine progress achieved in meeting the ICT needs of schools as well as resource requirements going forward. The findings of this census, which will be available shortly, will inform future policy and funding priorities in this area having regard to available budgetary resources.