Government announces ICT grant details
31-10-2007
by ElectricNews.Net

The Government has announced the allocation of EUR3.3 million, from the Dormant Accounts Fund, to provide ICT equipment to over 800 schools.

The money will go towards equipping some 815 schools participating in the Department of Education and Science's School Support Programme with a range of ICT equipment. The majority of recipients are primary and secondary schools based in Dublin and Galway.

"Every day I see at first hand the wonderful use that is being made of ICT in the classroom. This can be through the software that is available for schools or with items like data projectors and computer equipment which brings teaching and learning right up to the minute," said Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science.

The grants are mainly for the purchase of equipment such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, laptops, tablet PCs, data projectors, interactive whiteboards, educational software and other computer equipment.

This latest announcement brings the total grant allocations to those affected by educational disadvantage, since the beginning of 2006, to almost EUR10.5 million.

Funding to individual schools ranges from EUR2,500 to EUR13,000 while individual grants are based on pupil numbers. The Department of Education and Science has said it will contact schools receiving the grants directly.