Paul Lawless
Question:577. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on schools including schools participating in DEIS requiring families to purchase high-cost digital devices. [39517/26]
View answerTuesday, 26 May 2026
Questions (577)
Written answers
I have this week communicated directly with all schools and boards of management, clarifying the department's position that there is no requirement for a personal device for junior or leaving cert and I requested schools to be cognisant of the views of parents in relation to the use of digital devices and the associated costs. Also, I stressed the need for schools to engage with all parents and not just the Parent's Association before deciding on an approach regarding devices.
However, the decision on the deployment of technology in schools remains the decision of the schools and school management. I will continue to engage with educational stakeholders on this matter.
It is the responsibility of each individual school and board of management to select the digital resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 does not mandate or prescribe the use of any particular devices or technologies in teaching and learning, rather it advocates for the deeper embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning to develop digital literacy and competence, critical thinking and collaborative practice. It is not merely focused on using digital devices as an alternative to physical textbooks or resources.
Accordingly, there is no Department requirement for students to use personal digital devices for schoolwork or homework. Where digital devices are used as part of teaching and learning, schools are expected to ensure that no child is disadvantaged due to lack of access to technology.
It should be noted that 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 Management before a decision is made.
Under this current digital strategy for schools, a total of €170m has issued to schools, with the most recent tranche of funding of €35 million issued to all recognised primary, special schools and post-primary schools in January 2026. A standard funding formula incorporating both a flat rate lump sum and a per capita amount for each pupil/student enrolled has been used to calculate the grant due to each school. An enhanced per capita rate applies to pupils/students enrolled in DEIS and Special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings. This funding issued directly to schools, as they are best placed to determine the needs of their own students and have autonomy to do so. This funding can be used on ICT infrastructure as required in the schools and can provide for loan schemes for devices for students as appropriate.
This funding demonstrates the ongoing commitment to support schools to embed the use of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment, providing funding to support each school in its digital learning planning, fairly and transparently, regardless of the individual approach taken by the school.
The DEIS Strategy to 2035 sets out a whole-system, evidence-based approach to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools. It recognises that disadvantage exists across the system and aims to ensure every child and young person is supported to reach their full potential. The DEIS Plus scheme will provide enhanced, targeted supports to 121 schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. The investment secured in Budget 2026 of?€16.5m?first year?and?€48m full year is?the?biggest?full-year?investment?in targeted supports to address educational disadvantage since the establishment of the DEIS programme in 2006.
There are also a range of universal supports available to all schools to support children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. These include:
• National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological service to all primary and post-primary schools and special schools to support the well-being, academic, social and emotional development of all learners.
• The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a unified allocation for special education support teaching needs to each school based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses an element of English as an additional language (EAL) support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are frontloaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.??
• Free schoolbooks are provided to all children and young people in the free education system.
• Inspectorate support helps improve education provision for all children and young people. They promote best practice and school improvement by advising teachers, principals and boards of management in schools.?
• Through the Department of Social Protection, the School Meals Programme provides regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The Hot School Meals Programme is available to all primary schools, meaning that approximately 3,700 schools and organisations and 682,000 children are now eligible for the Schools Meals Programme.
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