Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
335. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided to groups that provide safe internet usage education in primary schools in each of the past three years by project in tabular form. [34429/19]
View answer636. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided for the purposes of school hiring external facilitators to educate students on safe online behaviour in each of the past five years with reference to the provider receiving this funding. [34492/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 636 together.
My Department does not provide funding to schools for the purpose of hiring external facilitators to educate students on safe online behaviour nor does it provide direct funding to groups to provide education in primary schools on online safety.
Furthermore my Department does not to endorse or promote any individual product or external service.
However my Department, though its teacher support services, provides extensive training, supports and resources to schools to assist with the development of policies and practices on the effective use of digital technologies in teaching and learning including their safe and ethical use. This includes supports on the prevention of bullying and harassment using the internet.
It is also important to note that individual schools have autonomy to engage with external providers for resources/materials/training to meet the needs of the school including for matters relating to online safety. This is a matter for each individual school to determine in the context of its own particular needs.
