Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
349. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the progress of the broadband for schools scheme; the number of schools who have received high school broadband to date as part of the scheme; the number of schools still waiting for access; when he anticipates the roll out of the scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41622/12]
View answerIn 2009, under the initial pilot phase of this project, a total of 78 post primary schools were provided with 100Mbps broadband. I subsequently announced the full rollout of 100Mbps to all second level schools in Ireland, to be completed over a 3 year period commencing in 2012.
202 post primary schools were selected this year for the first phase of the national rollout. Of these, 37 schools have been fully completed and already are using their enhanced broadband. A further 162 schools are scheduled to be completed by the end of October. 3 schools are currently completing major building works and this will delay the finalisation of their connections until sometime in November/December.
I hope to be in a position shortly to announce details of a further 200 schools to be connected during 2013 with the remaining 250 schools being connected in 2014, after which all second level schools in Ireland will have a high speed broadband connection.
