Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
134. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the reason ICT grants were not given this year; if she is aware that many schools had built the ICT grant into their funding model to avail of lease agreements and that the withdrawal of the ICT grant leaves a gap in funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31597/23]
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.
A further €50m in grant funding also issued in late 2021, under Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan supported by the NextGenerationEU facility, for schools to implement interventions to support learners at risk through the digital divide.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 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.
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.
Decisions as to how to provide for digital technologies in schools, including any leasing arrangements, are a matter for the Boards of Management of each school.
