Mattie McGrath questions future of schools' ICT grant
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about the status of the schools' ICT grant, asking whether it was intended as an annual payment and noting schools' surprise at a non-renewal. He said the next tranche is hoped to be issued in the 2023-2024 school year but is subject to availability of exchequer funding and wider capital plans.
Parliamentary question and response
The deputy said he put down a parliamentary question about the ICT grant and received a response stating it is hoped the next tranche will be issued in the 2023-2024 school year. The reply also emphasised that the issuing of grants is subject to availability of exchequer funding and wider capital plans in the department.
Concerns from schools and classroom ICT
He reported that many schools expected the grant to be continued and described it as "very, very badly needed" and "a necessary grant." He referenced seeing what can be done with ICT when "Firoga go downstairs to the Irmont Complementum," stressing the importance of modern and updated ICT facilities for schools.
Visit to Casenock National School and follow-up
He said he visited Casenock National School for its 300th anniversary and was told the free school books plan will go ahead in September. Staff there were surprised the ICT grant appeared not to be renewed. He undertook to look into whether the grant was recurring or a one-off, is working with Minister Foley, and pledged to come back with more information.
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My office has received a number of queries from schools regarding the ICT grant, and I put down a parliamentary question, and the response I received in a quote. It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in 2023-2024 school year, as with all sorts of funding, the issuing of grants is subject to availability of exchequer funding and wider capital plans in the department. Teacher, a lot of schools were expecting this grant would be continued, as we know it is very, very badly needed, a necessary grant, and was the grant initially meant to be yearly, or is it just in limbo now? When we saw Firoga go downstairs to the Irmont Complementum, and all the things they can do with ICT, it is so important for schools to have a modern ICT and have updated facilities in the current time. Thanks, Deputy. I'll come back to you about this when I have some more information. I visited Casenock National School last week for their 300th anniversary, and they informed me that while the plan for free school books was going ahead in September, and was going to work very well, they were surprised that the ICT grant was not being renewed, and I'm just not sure whether that was a recurring grant or a one-off grant, but I did undertake to look into it, and I'm working on that with Minister Foley, and I'll come back to an interview. Thank you for more information.
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