I wish to inform the Deputy that significant progress has been made since December 2008 to enhance the role of ICT in education. The Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, Building Ireland's Smart Economy, published in 2008 re-iterates Government policy to pursue the investment in school infrastructure, within available resources. The Framework commits to working to enhance the role of ICT in the education system, working in partnership with industry to invest further in the provision of equipment and connectivity.
My Department has recently participated in an industry advisory group to explore possible approaches to implementing the recommendations set out in the Strategy Group's Report, Investing Effectively in Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2008 — 2013. This industry advisory group which was chaired by Paul Rellis, Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland, and comprised members of ICT Ireland, the Telecommunications and Internet Federation, the Irish Software Association, officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the National Centre for Technology in Education, published its report on the 16th of November. The report, which is entitled Smart Schools = Smart Economy, makes a number of recommendations including the establishment of an ICT in Schools Steering Group, with key stakeholders participating in the group i.e. teachers, parents, Government, industry and students. The Report also identified the need for significant investment in ICT for schools over the next three years. In this regard as a first step, €22 million in grants will issue to primary schools this month. In line with the Strategy Group and Industry Group Reports I have requested that schools give priority to ensuring there is a teaching laptop and digital projector in every classroom. It is intended that funding for post primary schools will be made available early in the new year.
Progress in other areas includes the prioritisation of the role of the school's ICT coordinating teacher, with the support of the school principal, as central in the provision of ongoing ICT support and advice to schools. A handbook, Planning and Implementing e-Learning in your School, has been provided for principals and ICT co-ordinating teachers, and nationwide seminars for Primary level on e-Learning are due to be rolled out over the coming weeks. The range of digital content, available on the web portal Scoilnet, is being extended.
In the area of broadband, my Department is currently awarding contracts under the second phase of the Programme and the indications from the recently completed evaluation of tenders are that this will mean enhanced bandwidth for schools. The indications also are that there will be significantly less schools dependent on satellite technology for their broadband connectivity.
I am also working with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, to pursue the Government objective of equipping second-level schools with 100Mb per second of broadband connectivity and installing wireless local area networks. In this regard, 78 post primary schools have been selected to participate in a pilot project. I have been informed that the evaluation process has been completed, the preferred bidders selected and contract negotiations are expected to be completed shortly for the connectivity phase of the project.