Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2010
110 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of the 75 second level schools, mentioned in Building Ireland’s Smart Economy, published by the Government in December 2008 that have been equipped with 100Mb per second broadband to date; the name, address and roll number of all 75 schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44006/10]
View answer78 Schools have been installed with a 100Mbit/s connection broadband connection. The schools are as follows:
|
School No. |
School |
|
60010P |
Loreto Secondary School Co. Dublin |
|
60122D |
Coláiste Bríde Dublin 22 |
|
60263V |
St. Joseph’s College Co. Dublin |
|
61140K |
St Leos College, Dublin Road Carlow |
|
61560J |
St Kierans College Secondary School, College Rd Kilkenny |
|
61730I |
Colaiste Naomh Mhuire Kildare |
|
61820J |
Loreto Secondary School Wicklow |
|
62830R |
St Eunans College Donegal |
|
62840U |
Letterkenny Donegal |
|
63040Q |
Presentation College Secondary School Headford Galway |
|
63100I |
Calasanctius College Galway |
|
63210P |
Our Ladys Bower Secondary School Co Westmeath |
|
63610I |
Good Counsel College Co Wexford |
|
63710M |
Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon Co Longford |
|
63900R |
St Vincents Co Louth |
|
64250J |
Presentation Secondary School Limerick |
|
64990D |
St Angela’s School Waterford |
|
65630B |
Killina Presenation Secondary School Co. Offaly |
|
68067P |
St Nathy’s College Co Roscommon |
|
70041J |
Collinstown Park Community College Co. Dublin |
|
70260V |
St Macdara’s Community College Dublin |
|
70420R |
Carlow Vocational School Co. Carlow |
|
71103K |
Colaiste Choilm Co. Cork |
|
71120K |
Cork College of Commerce Co. Cork |
|
71244F |
Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada Co. Donegal |
|
71300M |
Gairmscoil Einne Galway |
|
71370K |
Colaiste Ghobnait Galway |
|
71410T |
Athlone Community College Westmeath |
|
71630K |
Enniscorthy Vocational College Wexford |
|
71770D |
O Fiaich College Co Louth |
|
71840V |
Colaiste Chiarain Limerick |
|
71950F |
St Peter’s College, Dunboyne Co Meath |
|
72210Q |
Beech Hill College Monaghan |
|
72241E |
St Pauls Community College Waterford |
|
76060U |
Davitt College Mayo |
|
76062B |
Castleknock Community College Dublin |
|
76073G |
Castletroy College Limerick |
|
76079S |
Colaiste Phobail Cholmcille Donegal |
|
76087R |
Cavan Institute Cavan |
|
81002K |
Mount Temple Comprehensive School Dublin |
|
81014R |
Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. Limerick |
|
91338D |
St Aidans Community School Dublin |
|
91344V |
Pobalscoil Rosmini Dublin |
|
91388S |
Carrigaline Community School Cork |
|
91406R |
Carndonagh Community School Donegal |
|
91492N |
Gorey Community School Co Wexford |
|
91494R |
St Louis community School Mayo |
|
91496V |
Carrick Community School Leitrim |
|
91497A |
Cashel Community School |
|
91498C |
Gort Community School Galway |
|
91500J |
Loreto Community School Donegal |
|
91501L |
Moate Community School Westmeath |
|
91510M |
St Colmcilles Community School Knocklyon, Dublin 16 |
|
60261R |
St. Benildus College Co. Dublin |
|
60731F |
St. Dominic’s College Co. Dublin |
|
60792C |
Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount Dublin |
|
60902G |
St Pauls Secondary School Greenhills Dublin |
|
61661P |
Salesian College, Celbridge Kildare |
|
61920N |
St Flannans College Clare |
|
62692I |
Christ King Secondary School Cork |
|
62861F |
St Columbas College Donegal |
|
62960H |
St Joseph’s Patrician College Galway |
|
63841E |
St Marys Diocesan School Drogheda, Co Louth |
|
65170Q |
Summerhill College Sligo Sligo |
|
68068R |
Colaiste Iosagain Laois |
|
68070E |
Mercy Secondary School Kerry |
|
70342A |
Ballyfermot College of FE Dublin |
|
70700A |
Maynooth Post Primary School Co. Kildare |
|
71761C |
St. Olivers CC Louth |
|
71960I |
Dunshaughlin Community College Co. Meath |
|
72230W |
St Declans Community College Co. Waterford |
|
81017A |
Trinity Comprehensive School Dublin |
|
91315O |
Coolmine Community School Dublin |
|
91325R |
Malahide Community School Dublin |
|
91332O |
St Marks Community School Dublin |
|
91339F |
Hartstown Community School Dublin |
|
91408V |
Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhasha Donegal |
|
91447I |
St. Caimin’s Community School Clare |
The schools were selected by a working group made up of representatives from: the Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources; the National centre for Technology in Education; and HEAnet.
A two stage selection process was used for the selection of schools:
Stage 1: Examined all schools against sub criteria that were independent of the schools.
Stage 2: Examined schools qualified from stage 1 against sub criteria that were school dependent.
STAGE 1
4 sub criteria were identified under Stage 1 of the selection process as set out below:
Geographical Location;
Technical Mix;
Social Inclusion and
Adequate mix of schools
Geographical Location:
The working group sought to ensure that an appropriate percentage of schools invited to participate in the project was achieved between both Dublin and provincial locations. It was also felt that an urban/rural mix could be achieved by ensuring that an adequate number of places were available to the provincial locations. Additionally, it was felt that all counties should be represented in the pilot project. Whilst geographical location was used as the starting point in deciding the selection of schools for progress to stage 2, the working group examined each location with the other criteria in mind. Accordingly, in order to achieve excellent VFM with regard to both backhaul and infrastructure investment, the working group decided to locate a significant number of the provincial locations in places where HEAnet has a major point of presence (PoP) and a contractual agreement to access the PoP.
The working group decided that the following regions should be included for participation in the pilot project:
Dublin;
Cork;
Limerick;
Athlone;
Galway;
Letterkenny;
Waterford;
Dundalk;
Tipperary.
The remaining places were reserved for locations outside these areas that satisfied specific requirements of the pilot project.
Technology Mix:
The working group wanted to ensure that all technologies that can deliver a 100Mbit/s connection would be tested during the demonstration project. It was decided that areas within a 30km radius of HEAnet PoPs would satisfy this requirement. Accordingly, all schools located within this radius for each of the eight PoPs were identified.
In the Dublin area, it was anticipated that a variety of access technologies could connect the selected schools. As such, the working group were of the opinion that the telecommunications market in Dublin was sufficiently developed to allow a mix of bandwidth technologies to be proposed without the need for further intervention by the working group. The working group decided that the schools in Dublin should, where possible, include five schools from each of the local authorities.
Social Inclusion:
The working group wanted to ensure that specific communities could be included in the project from a social inclusion perspective. This criterion ensures that island, rural and DEIS schools were included in the project.
Adequate Mix of Schools:
While prioritising schools with a significant student population under the criteria set out above, the working group endeavoured to ensure that an adequate mix of schools were also chosen to be invited to participate in the demonstration project. Consequently, a number of schools were selected with reference to the following selection criteria:
Schools with a large cohort of students with special educational needs;
Post Leaving Certificate Schools;
Gaelscoileanna/Gaeltacht Schools;
ICT Adoption;
Gender mix;
Rural/urban mix;
Schools type;
Size of school.
STAGE 2
Stage 2 of the selection process sought to ensure that the schools shortlisted from Stage 1 had the commitment, infrastructure and support to realize the potential of 100Mbit/s bandwidth. Shortlisted schools were invited to apply for inclusion in the project outlining how participation in the project would support their e-learning plan, and what would be required of them in being involved in the project. The working group felt a range of schools with differing levels of ICT usage and infrastructure would be desirable in the project. Schools had to agree to the project commitments to qualify for the project.
3 sub criteria were identified under stage 2 of the selection process as set out:
Current structures and Infrastructure;
Usage of internet for learning and teaching, including any projects; and
Commitment to the project requirements over the next 2 years.
Current Structures and Infrastructure:
The working group wanted to ensure that all schools qualified from Stage 1 would be examined with regard to their ability to utilise the proposed connection as quickly as possible. It was proposed to focus on the schools individual e-learning team and plan, current ICT infrastructure (specifically devices) and teachers ICT proficiency.
Usage of internet for learning and teaching, including any projects:
The working group wanted to ensure that the schools invited to participate in the project had a digital agenda with regard to ICT within the learning and teaching environment.
From a project feasibility point of view, all schools identified as suitable for participation in the pilot were subject to examination with regard to cost effectiveness and the ability to deliver the required infrastructure within budgetary constraints.
