Thomas Byrne
Ceist:247. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when full broadband service will be restored in a primary school (details supplied). [4375/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 30 January 2018
Ceisteanna (247)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of Internet connectivity for recognised primary and post primary schools. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme.
Significant improvement has been made in recent years with the number of primary schools on broadband speeds of greater than 30mbs having increased from less than 100 in 2012 to over 1,000 by the end of 2017. In Meath in 2012, no primary school had access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater, now some 34 primary schools in Meath have access to broadband speeds of 30mbs or greater.
Under the current programme, my Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. A recent drawdown from the Framework of Providers of Broadband Services saw some 1,100 primary schools awarded download speeds of 30Mbps or greater (the baseline download speed required under the National Broadband Plan). Some 900 of those schools have now been connected with the balance to be in place by the end of 2017.
The policy of this Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and financial constraints. Broadband capacity can vary due to geographical location and local infrastructure, and thus impact on the service that can be provided.
The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, and as noted access to high speed broadband is one of the indicators identified in the Digital Strategy Action Plan. An interdepartmental working group has been established to determine how best to address broadband connectivity to primary schools in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in the context of the National Broadband Plan and the Intervention Strategy, and proposed industry provision.
In the case of the school referred to be the Deputy, the Schools Broadband Service Desk of the PDST and the current Service Provider have worked to resolve the recent ongoing issue with this schools broadband service and I understand that these issues are now resolved and the service has been fully restored. The service will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it is the best available under the scheme.
Questions Nos. 248 and 249 answered with Question No. 242.