Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
115. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the number of ICT grants awarded to secondary schools in County Donegal; the amount awarded; if any awards have been refunded; if so, what reasons have been given, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52749/23]
View answerThe Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, 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.
The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment. This funding issued annually to recognised primary, special and post-primary schools including those in Donegal annually over the period of the Strategy. Over the periods of the Digital Strategy ICT grant funding and to date,, schools across Donegal have received a total of €4,325,500.
additionally, Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021. of which county Donegal schools receive €799,720
No ICT grant funding has been refunded from any school in county Donegal during the period of the Digital Strategy grants.
The following table outlines the type of ICT grant paid including the year of which it was paid, amounts and the number of post primary schools in Donegal receiving the grants.
|
Grant Type |
School Year |
Number of Post primary Schools |
Total Amount Paid. to Donegal Post Primary schools(€) |
|
Digital Divide Grant |
2021-22 |
27 |
799,720 |
|
ICT grant |
2021 -22 |
27 |
737,784 |
|
ICT Grant |
2020 - 21 |
27 |
937,396 |
|
ICT grant |
2019 - 20 |
27 |
940,849 |
|
ICT Grant |
2018 - 19 |
27 |
755,897 |
|
ICT grant |
2017 - 18 |
27 |
476,812 |
|
ICT grant |
2016 - 17 |
27 |
476,762 |
My Department intends to issue the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year. The specific timing for issue of the ICT 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.
As part of the forthcoming Review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.
