Niall Collins
Ceist:850. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be able to avail of fibre broadband; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (850)
Freagraí scríofa
The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum.
My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing broadband connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best available connectivity based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on 50mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the school.
As the Deputy is aware the school referred is in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area, implementation of which is underway. My Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on this implementation to prioritise school connectivity, with all schools in the NBP Implementation Area to be provided with high speed broadband infrastructure by 2023. My officials have confirmed with colleagues in the DECC that this school is scheduled to be connected to the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) infrastructure in the coming weeks. A soon as possible thereafter, the service to the school will be upgraded to avail of this infrastructure through the Schools Broadband Programme.
In the meantime, the school may wish however to contact the Schools Broadband Service Desk (tel. 1800 334466) to ensure that they are receiving the maximum service on their current connection, and to investigate if internal networking issues may be impacting services in the school.