Final phase of 100Mbps broadband for secondary schools to begin

6 Jan 2014

The third and final phase of the Government’s plan to put 100Mbps broadband into every secondary school in Ireland is about to kick off, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said this afternoon.

So far 100Mbps broadband has been installed in 516 second level schools.

The last phase details a further 270 schools to be connected across nine Southern counties including Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow.

“Completing the final phase of the national programme will mean that all our post-primary schools have been equipped with top class, future proofed broadband,” Minister Rabbitte said.

“This will enable and motivate them to grasp the teaching and learning opportunities that the internet provides. This Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to incorporate ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum and this investment in connectivity is a cornerstone in making that a reality.”

Digital Strategy for Schools

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said that the final phase of the 100Mbps schools network will influence the direction of the Digital Strategy for Schools.

““Broadband is the foundation on which we can build and support the use of technology in the classroom to improve teaching and learning,” Quinn said.

“I am delighted that by the end of the next school year every second level school in the country will have access to high speed internet.  The development of the new Digital Strategy for Schools, which I recently launched, will give schools the roadmap as to how to optimise use of technology in the classroom. 

“The Department of Education & Skills is developing this Strategy in consultation with schools, parents, industry and academics,” Quinn said.

Broadband ignition image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com