Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
238. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education what funding has been allocated for ICT grants for schools on an annual basis from 2011 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30238/23]
View answerUnder the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.
As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.
In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide,
ICT grant funding allocation annually
|
2015* |
€7million |
|
2016/17 |
€30million |
|
2017/18 |
€30million |
|
2018/19 |
€50million |
|
2019/2020 |
€50million |
|
2020-2021** |
€50million |
|
2021-2022*** |
€100million |
* A one-off grant scheme to support the implementation of the Design Communication and Graphics syllabus was put in place in 2015, with over €7m in funding issued to some 450 post-primary schools.
** Funding for the 2020-2021 school year was brought forward to issue in 2020 to support schools in responding to the challenges of the pandemic.
*** Funding for the 2021-2022 school year was brought forward to issue in December 2021, additionally 2021-22 allocation includes €50m once off funding scheme to address the digital divide under NRRP.
