Darren O'Rourke
Question:352. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding provided, per pupil, for technological devices for school use in DEIS schools across the State. [31577/25]
View answerThursday, 12 June 2025
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Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. €35 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is issuing to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. To note, the funding is for ICT infrastructure, which can include but is not limited to, digital devices.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).
To date, a total of €100 million of the €200 million committed to in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, as announced by the Minister, will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.
This funding demonstrates the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation amount of funding provided, per pupil, for technological devices for school use in DEIS schools across the State.
|
- |
Total Amount for 2023/2024 per capita only * |
Total Amount for 2024/2025 per capita only |
|
Primary |
€6,733,020 |
€4,293,862 |
|
Post Primary |
€5,424,027 |
€3,585,671 |
The funding allocation model applying to the ICT Infrastructure Grant payments for 2024/2025 as outlined in the ICT Grant circular, in relation to DEIS is as follows:
1.All schools, primary, post-primary and special schools will receive a lump sum of €2,000 (€1,000 in respect of fee-charging schools) per school.
2.A per capita amount will be paid as follows:
a. €27.86 per pupil on the rolls on the 30th of September 2023 in DEIS category primary schools.
b.€33.44 per student on the rolls on the 30th of September 2023 in DEIS category post-primary schools.
* circular with details of funding breakdown for ICT grant 2023/2024 can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/grant-scheme-for-ict-infrastructure/
Under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day to day management of schools. Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made.
Schools, in conjunction with parents, are responsible for decisions on the use of digital technology, including tablet devices, laptops, and learning platforms, and how best to manage their integration into classroom practice reflective of their own context and requirements.
Oide-Technology in Education (the area within my department's support service for teachers specialising in digital technology in teaching and learning, formerly PDST-TiE) offer advice and supports to schools on digital learning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology in education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.
It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum.
Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to all schools, such as the introduction of free schoolbooks and free hot school meals. My department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme which supports approximately 260,000 students.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. That is why I am committed to publishing a new DEIS Plan in 2025. Building on the expansion of the DEIS programme in 2022, the new DEIS plan will work towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.