Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2023
109. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if Internet access will be provided throughout an entire school (details supplied); when this will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10502/23]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was recently connected to high speed broadband on the schools broadband programme. The school is now on a dedicated 100mbs fibre connection and that service is now live and operational in the school. Internal network connectivity within the school is a matter for the Board of Management of individual schools, in line with their Digital Learning Plan and particular circumstances.
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 department is now implementing a project to provide high speed broadband connectivity through the Schools Broadband Programme for primary schools outside of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, and where commercial provision is neither available nor planned. That project is supported by funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and is managed by HEAnet on behalf of my department. My department is committed to providing all primary schools with high speed broadband in 2023 through the National Broadband Plan, commercial provision, and the NRRP project.
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.
