Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2026
228. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding provided through the ICT grant to Cork schools, or nationally, in each of the years 2019 to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54146/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in December 2025, I announced €35 million in funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools by the end of January 2026. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to enable the continued embedding of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment This is the fourth tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's 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, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).
Including the €35m that issued in January 2026, a total of €170 million of the €200 million committed for 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 it is anticipated that providing €35m this year, will enable the balance of €30 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027. Clarity and certainty is being provided for school system on annual grant payment timeline which is now set at December/January payment period for each year.
In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide.
This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment and builds on the €210m in grants that issued under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of the ICT grant, paid to county Cork schools, for the 2025/26 school year, is set out at the following link.
ICT Grant paid to all recognised Co. Cork schools from 2019 to date
