Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.

New funding for primary and post primary schools to help ensure access for all to technology.

December 06, 2021

New funding for primary and post primary schools to help ensure access for all to technology.

New funding for primary and post primary schools to help ensure access for all to technology. 💻⌨️🎥
Galway 🤍❤️
📚230 Primary Schools
📚46 Post Primary Schools
Roscommon 💛💙
📚88 Primary Schools
📚9 Post Primary Schools
The world is moving at such speed and we need our students to be able to engage with technology and to have the supports in place, so no-one is left behind. Digital transformation is really gathering pace especially since the Covid-19 lockdown when teaching staff, students and parents adapted to teaching & learning online. We also know that children without devices did not have the same learning opportunities. This new funding will help address the digital divide.
This funding of close to €3,750,000 million for schools in County Galway & Roscommon means more inclusion and equality of access for children to digital devices. Teachers can develop their school’s digital learning plans, schools could provide more access through loan schemes to support families in need and these funds will also drive students innovation & creativity.
As a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, we are currently hearing from witnesses in relation to Leaving Certificate reform. Last week the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs highlighted the development of digital skills as crucial for our students today. We urgently need to ensure we are preparing our students to have the best opportunities and choice for further study, learning and employment.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the facility.

 

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.

 

Under the project being announced today, funding will be paid directly to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, to invest in digital infrastructure to support students who are most at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide. As part of this measure, schools in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme will receive double the amount of funding provided to non-DEIS schools.

 Full information on the rates applying and the criteria and conditions attaching to this funding can be found in the Department of Education’s circular 0060/2021. A copy of this circular is attached.

 

Through the other project for which NRRP funding is being provided, and through the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area implementation and commercial provision, all primary schools will be provided with high speed broadband connectivity by early 2023