Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
172. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the supports in place for those families with inadequate Internet access or devices for their children to engage with learning from home fully while schools are closed (details supplied). [3023/21]
View answerIn an effort to support students and families a process to zero rate educational websites was put in place during the first lockdown, as announced by the then Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. I am advised that the zero rating has been maintained by a number of telecoms providers and also that there is a range of unlimited mobile data packages on offer by the market.
ICT Infrastructure Grant funding of €100m (in two tranches of €50m) issued in 2020 to schools, with schools advised to use this funding to support the continuity of teaching and learning should a period of partial or full school closure owing to Covid-19 restrictions be required. Funding for ICT is issued directly to schools given that schools are best placed to determine the ICT needs of their school community. The early provision of the 2020-2021 ICT funding is to enable schools to implement Circular 0074/2020, issued in November 2020, advising schools of the requirement to provide for the continuity of teaching and learning through utilising relevant digital communications/learning platforms to support contingency planning in the event of further public health related school closures.
It is recognised that in some cases a student's home broadband may present challenges for the education system in the current crisis, and that remote learning may not be appropriate or feasible for some students. With this in mind, schools have been asked to consider the needs of all students in planning their approaches to remote learning to ensure that students who may not have adequate broadband services or who may not be able to access online classes. My Department will continue to work with the education partners to support schools through the provision of relevant resources on how best to use digital and other solutions to provide continuity of learning for all students at this time.
School buildings will remain open to allow for staff to facilitate remote learning. Teachers, SNAs and other school staff are allowed to travel to school as essential workers.
It should be noted that my Department does not have a role in the provision of residential broadband infrastructure. Provision for such services fall to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and this is being addressed through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area. My officials have an ongoing engagement with that Department on issues relating to broadband services for schools. The Department's Schools Broadband Access Programme provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools and some 98% of schools avail of this service. The Schools Broadband Programme is operated by my Department at an annual cost of some €13m.
