Flanagan welcomes progress on second level broadband connections

Laois Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan has welcomed the progress that has been made on connecting all second level schools in Laois to 100Mbps high speed broadband. Deputy Flanagan has said that he expects all secondary level schools in Laois to be completed by the end of October
“This significant investment in our schools is money well spent. One of the commitments of the Programme for Government was to incorporate the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum”
“The introduction of high speed broadband to these schools will have a major impact on how teachers use ICT in their teaching. It will encourage the use of online learning as well as enabling the introduction of digital textbooks and the use of IPAD’s in the classroom. The fact that class room learning can be revolutionised by the availability of high speed broadband means that the investment will deliver significant long term results”
“I have been in contact with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and they have confirmed to me that the three post primary schools in Portlaoise along with Colaiste Iosagain in Portarlington have been connected. They have assured me that the remaining secondary schools will be connected within the next two weeks”.
 

Note:
Under this programme all second-level schools will have 100Mbps broadband installed by the end of 2014 €“ 200 in 2012, 200 in 2013 and the final 250 schools in 2014.
The provision of service to the schools to be connected in 2012 will be on foot of a tender competition under an established Framework Agreement and will be undertaken by HEAnet on behalf of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills.
This project is the result of cooperation between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills, the Higher Education Authority, HEAnet and the National Centre for Technology in Education in conjunction with core services supplied by ESB Telecom.
HEAnet has built and will maintain the network on behalf of the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources. The National Centre for Technology in Education is charged with the integration of ICT within schools. They will also provide front line support for the staff of the schools.
ESB Telecoms has provided backhaul from regional locations to Dublin.
The Project has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)