Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024
559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand the device lending scheme and invest in digital infrastructure to support hybrid learning and teaching in higher education institutions, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37920/24]
View answerThe device lending scheme referred to by the Deputy was the 'Covid-19 ICT Devices scheme, a once-off special grant as part of a package of COVID-19 measures. The grant was intended to respond to concerns raised by higher and further education providers, and by student representatives, regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning as a result of COVID-19.
The full package approved by the Government in July, 2020 consisted of a €168 million package of supports for the further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. €15 million of this was earmarked for devices to support disadvantaged students in eligible further and higher education institutions.
Since 2020, thousands of disadvantaged students have benefitted from the scheme. Additional disadvantaged students continue to benefit from the scheme in 2024/25 as some institutions still have scope to support more disadvantaged students from the pool of devices that have already been procured (in addition to the devices being returned by disadvantaged students completing their studies).
A general ICT Devices Scheme exists to support disadvantaged students once they can demonstrate eligibility. Students who consider they may be eligible for a device should contact the Access Office in their higher education institution for further information. The management of the device schemes (including specific terms and conditions) is a matter for each institution.
This also pertains to the second point of the Deputy's question regarding investment in digital infrastructure to support hybrid learning and teaching in higher education. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the development of digital infrastructure on-campus. However, the matter of digital infrastructure and development spans a whole host of areas that are important to my Department. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, sets out a number of relevant priorities including enabling access to Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skills, as well as supporting implementation of Digital for Good, Ireland's Digital Roadmap, which makes commitments to both Digital Inclusivity and ensuring meaningful access to affordable, high-quality, high-speed broadband services.
