Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith in Dáil Questions to the Minister for Education and Skills raised a number of issues of concern to this year’s leaving certificate students.

“One of the specific queries I put to the Minister relates to problems facing students who do not have access to up to date technology and/or students living in areas with inadequate broadband coverage. A survey conducted by the National Parents Council Post-Primary clearly shows that a substantial cohort of students do not have access to a quality broadband connection.  This is also borne out by representations I have received from many families on this issue.

With schools likely to remain closed for a number of weeks and exams delayed the impact of this digital divide will likely be most harshly felt by less well off students and those in rural areas.  There is no fairness in this”, stated Brendan Smith TD.

The Minister in his reply to me stated –

Schools have been asked to be conscious of students who may not have access to online facilities and to consider this actively in their responses. School buildings have been available to staff who wished to access the facilities in order to provide online delivery, or essential services, as long as this was in line with public health advice.

Officials in my Department have liaised with colleagues in the DCCAE to raise the issue of barriers to connectivity impacting access to remote learning. Minister Bruton has announced a package of additional supports from the telecoms companies including that access to healthcare and educational resource websites identified by the Government will be zero-rated for all customers where technically feasible.

The Department is supporting a pilot initiative, under which Cisco and IBM are providing support directly to schools to operate the WebEx platform. This facilitates schools, with no alternative capability, with a collaborative platform to enable them engage with their students and staff.

My Department is also engaging with IBEC on the potential for companies to donate devices and other supports to be targeted at disadvantage students who otherwise would not have a device.

The Department will continue to work with the education partners to provide solutions in areas where digital and remote learning options may not be possible, and work is underway to provide guidance to schools about how best to use digital and other solutions to provide ongoing learning for students at this time”,

concluded Minister McHugh in his Dáil reply to Brendan Smith TD.

ENDS

PQ reply below

1.1.1. Response

Schools have been asked to be conscious of students who may not have access to online facilities and to consider this actively in their responses. School buildings have been available to staff who wished to access the facilities in order to provide online delivery, or essential services, as long as this was in line with public health advice.

Officials in my Department have liaised with colleagues in the DCCAE to raise the issue of barriers to connectivity impacting access to remote learning. Minister Bruton has announced a package of additional supports from the telecoms companies including that access to healthcare and educational resource websites identified by the Government will be zero-rated for all customers where technically feasible.

The Department is supporting a pilot initiative, under which Cisco and IBM are providing support directly to schools to operate the WebEx platform. This facilitates schools, with no alternative capability, with a collaborative platform to enable them engage with their students and staff.

My Department is also engaging with IBEC on the potential for companies to donate devices and other supports to be targeted at disadvantage students who otherwise would not have a device.

The Department will continue to work with the education partners to provide solutions in areas where digital and remote learning options may not be possible, and work is underway to provide guidance to schools about how best to use digital and other solutions to provide ongoing learning for students at this time.