Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
652. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual budget for information technology equipment for primary and secondary schools; the number of devices purchased from this per annum by category; and the estimated cost of increasing same by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. [15654/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €50m has recently been issued in respect of the 2019-2020 school year. It is expected a further tranche of €50m will issue in the 2020-2021 school year.
Primary schools can use the Minor Works Grant for the provision of ICT infrastructure, and general capitation that issues to schools can also be used for that purpose.
This ICT Grant funding issues to schools, to facilitate them in developing their own approach to embedding digital technology in teaching and learning. Schools are best placed to determine the most appropriate solution to adopt in terms of supporting the learning needs of their students based on their own context and circumstances. Decisions as to what infrastructure is to be acquired and procurement of same is the responsibility of schools including purchase of devices and software.
Digital Strategy ICT annual grant funding
|
Year |
€ |
|
2016/17 |
€30 million |
|
2017/18 |
€30 million |
|
2018/19* |
€50 million |
|
2019/2020** |
€50 million |
*Includes some €5million application based top up funding to schools
Schools have been very innovative in meeting the challenges posed by school closures. To further support schools to meet demands for continuity of learning an additional €10m top-up funding, part of the broader Digital Strategy investment, also issued to all schools in April. This was made available at this time to assist schools to support students at risk of educational disadvantage due to COVID-19 school closures. Schools have been asked to use this funding to support students where, due to lack of access to digital devices, may be disadvantaged in their engagement with the school's remote teaching and learning where this is provided by digital means.
Full details regarding the funding are set out in Circulars 0031/2020 (€40m funding) and 0032/2020 (€10m funding) which are available on the Department’s website at
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Circulars-and-Forms/.
