Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 September 2020
88. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties reported by a school (details supplied) in getting increased broadband capacity; if funding is available for this and other schools to expand such capacity; if there is a delay caused by a tendering process; and if there are multiple schools affected or if the issue is particular to an individual school. [24401/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThrough the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. The Department's High Speed Broadband Programme, provides all recognised post-primary schools, high speed broadband with a minimum broadband speed of 100mbs. There are 58 special schools also included in this programme, managed for the Department by HEAnet.
The primary broadband scheme operates off existing infrastructure on the whole and the providers on the Primary Broadband Framework access this infrastructure to deliver the service to the schools. The Department does not put in place such infrastructure. The policy of my Departments 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 post-primary school referred to by the Deputy has a high speed broadband connection of 100 Mbp/s which is uncontended and symmetrical, meaning this is a dedicated service to the school. Given that this is an uncontended service; the school should have 100Mb/s connectivity. Schools are advised to contact the Broadband service desk In the first instance, in order to rule out any issues with the internal infrastructure of the school, be it the wireless or wired network and also to record their bandwidth upgrade request as appropriate. The Department's dedicated broadband service desk which is managed on its behalf by the Professional Development Service for Teachers - Technology in Education can be contacted by phoning 1800334466.
HEAnet is currently conducting an extensive upgrade programme for post primary schools as a result of which some 47% of schools have been upgraded to speeds greater that 200Mbp/s. A further 380 post-primary schools are now due to be upgraded, and on completion of this process, over 80% of schools will have a connection of 200 Mbps/s or higher. The school referred is included in this cohort due for upgrade over the coming school year.
The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. Good school connectivity is essential for the embedding of technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new subjects like Computer Science. Currently, my Department spends some €13m on the provision of internet connectivity to schools annually.
