Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
308. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Meath may expect to receive faster broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47665/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the schools broadband access programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. All contracts under the schools broadband access programme were recently re-tendered under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from six to 13, with the aim of ensuring that where available that a preferred solutions would be awarded to a school. These contracts were signed in the summer and the migration of schools onto the new services is currently under way.
The Department is aware of the difficulty that some schools, such as Culmullen National School, have with their broadband service. Through the public procurement process the Department has sought as far as possible to reduce the reliance on satellite services and the number of schools reliant on a satellite connection has fallen from approximately 1,800 in 2005 to approximately 340 at present. Satellite connections and some other slower connections have only been awarded where no other solution was proposed and contracts for these connections have only been awarded for one year. These schools will be re-tendered next summer and in the interim the Department will liaise with service providers to try and ensure that where possible improved connections will be made available.
