Catherine Murphy
Question:604. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if DEIS schools receive an enhanced grant under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. [28377/23]
View answerTuesday, 13 June 2023
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Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
The funding allocation model applying to the ICT Infrastructure Grant will be detailed in the Circular at the time of issue of the grant. All students following primary and post-primary programmes are included, for per capita purposes, in recognised primary, special and post-primary schools. An enhanced per capita rate applies to students enrolled in DEIS and Special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings. Information on the background to this scheme for the 2021-2022 school year, the rates and eligibility for this funding, is set out in the associated circular which can be found on .gov.ie website.
As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.