Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2010
392 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding that has been paid out under the Smart Schools Smart Economy strategy to date; the number of classrooms that have received new equipment from the funding to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19102/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing publication of the Smart Schools = Smart Economy report in November 2009, ICT Infrastructure Grants amounting to €22.3 million issued to over 3,000 primary schools last November. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a second tranche of ICT infrastructure funding in the region of €20 million will be distributed to post-primary schools in the coming weeks.
As the Deputy may be aware, this capital investment arises in the context of the broader ICT in Schools Programme, which is being pursued in light of recommendations made in the ICT Strategy Group Report and the Smart Schools = Smart Economy reports. Investment in the Programme (both capital and current) amounted to €35.2 million in 2009, and I envisage a further investment of €63.6 million in 2010. This funding addresses the following four key Programme areas:
the provision of essential ICT infrastructure within schools;
the provision of access to broadband connectivity to schools through a national Schools Broadband Service and associated Helpdesk;
the development of teachers' ICT skills through a programme of continuing professional development in ICT for teachers through the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE);
the integration of ICT within the curriculum and the provision of curriculum-relevant digital content and software through the national portal for ICT in Schools, www.Scoilnet.ie.
The specific information which the Deputy requests in relation to the number of classrooms which have received new equipment from the funding to date is not available as the grant fund in question follows the devolved model. While schools are asked to prioritise the equipping of each classroom with a digital projector, teaching computer, wireless mouse and keyboard, it is recognised that schools will already have this equipment in a number of classrooms. It is necessary therefore to provide schools with flexibility to use their grant funding to purchase other ICT equipment, such as printers, scanners and digital cameras which would serve the needs of a school rather than a specific classroom.
