Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte and the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn have announced that all second level schools in Dublin, Meath and Kildare will have 100Mb/s broadband connections installed during 2013.
This is the second stage of a national roll-out to all second-level schools. The 2012 phase of the project saw broadband installed in all post-primary schools in 14 western and midlands counties, covering 202 schools. This built upon a pilot project involving 78 schools nationally, where the use of broadband has been shown to have improved both teaching and learning.
Speaking at Presentation Secondary School in Warrenmount, Dublin, Minister Rabbitte said: "I am very pleased that my Department is investing in industrial strength, future proofed connectivity for these schools. By bringing 100Mb/s uncontended connectivity directly to the premises many students will now have vastly enhanced access to new and innovate educational tools. This is a completely different standard of connection to domestic broadband and will allow multiple applications to be accessed by students right across the school."
Minister Quinn said: "The use of ICT/digital technology will be one of the key skills in the new Junior Cycle, and it will be enhanced through the availability of a short course, currently being developed by the NCCA, that will deal with programming/coding for junior cycle students from September 2014. In order to facilitate students in developing ICT skills access to fast reliable broadband is essential.
The roll out of 100Mb/s to all post primary schools will also facilitate schools to develop e-portfolios to augment the school-work component of the new Junior Cycle."
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) is funding all of the capital costs of this project, estimated to be approximately €11 million, as well as contributing some €10 million in current costs for the years 2012 to 2015. The Department of Education & Skills (DES) will fund the remaining current costs (estimated to be some €20 million up to 2015). DES will also fund the on-going costs on an annual basis into the future.
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