Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
589. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education her plans to upgrade and-or reform the high-speed broadband programme for schools; if she and-or her officials have engaged with National Broadband Ireland In respect of same; and if she will provide a schedule of all schools in County Kildare that will have broadband service upgraded in 2021 and 2022. [16760/21]
View answerThe 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, through the Schools Broadband Programme. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. As you will be 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 primary broadband scheme operates off existing infrastructure on the whole and the providers on the Primary Broadband Framework access this infrastructure to deliver the service to the schools. The Department does not put in place such infrastructure. All post-primary schools are provided with high speed connectivity through the Department's High Speed Programme for Post-Primary Schools.
My Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention area, which will see almost 700 primary schools provided with high speed connectivity by the end of 2022. This includes the School Connection Points under the Broadband Connection Points programme implementation currently underway.
In operating the Schools Broadband Programme, my Department adheres to procurement regulations, and must engage with the selected retail serviced providers on the DE Framework of Providers of Broadband Services through a tender process to award services. As and when improvements in infrastructure providing high speed connectivity is put in place, either through industry provision or the NBP implementation, the retail service providers on the Primary Schools Broadband Framework will be in a position to utilise this in providing connectivity through my Department's Broadband Programme.
As the Deputy will be aware, industry provision can be commercially sensitive, and is subject to change, which may also impact on the premises included in the National Broadband Plan Implementation Area. On that basis, it is not possible to provide a list of schools in Kildare scheduled for upgrade in 2021 and 2022 as requested.
