Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
55. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in ensuring high speed broadband to all schools; and the way in which his Department can assist a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [49543/18]
View answerThe delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum.
The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, and access to high speed broadband is one of the indicators identified in the Digital Strategy Action Plan. An interdepartmental working group has been established to determine how best to address broadband connectivity to primary schools in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in the context of the National Broadband Plan and the Intervention Strategy, and proposed industry provision.
The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €15m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. As the deputy is no doubt aware broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent on local infrastructure which can impact on the service that can be provided in individual schools.
The school referred to by the Deputy voluntarily withdrew from the Schools Broadband Programme, which is provided and managed by my Department, during the summer 2018 and entered into their own contract with a service provider. As this service is provided outside the Schools Broadband Programme, my Department has no role and therefore the school will have to continue to engage directly with their provider to resolve any issues with service.
The Schools Broadband Programme is open to all recognised primary schools as such should this school decide to re-join the scheme then the school should make contact with officers of my Department who can arrange for the school to be included in the next Broadband mini competition run by the Department. If this is what they wish to do, the school should make contact with the Broadband Service desk team at broadbandservicedesk@pdst.ie who will begin the process of including the school in the programme.
The Department reviews the availability and quality of services and upgrades schools when the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. Currently, over 1,100 primary schools have been awarded download speeds of 30Mbps or greater (the baseline download speed required under the National Broadband Plan). This represents more than one third of all primary schools which is a significant improvement in recent years, given that less than 100 primary schools were on those speeds in 2012. Further schools are likely to be upgraded to those speeds in 2018, through EIR's 300K Rural Deployment commitment.
All post-primary schools and some special schools are now on high speed broadband through the Department's High Speed Broadband Programme, managed by HEAnet.
