Offaly schools among first to get high speed broadband

Every post-primary school in Offaly will have high speed broadband by the beginning of the next school year, being among the first schools in the country to get high speed broadband. The move is part of an initiative to bring broadband to all secondary schools in the country. A total of 200 secondary schools in Offaly and 13 other counties will have 100Mbps broadband installed by September 2012. A further 200 schools will be connected in 2013, with the remaining 250 secondary schools countrywide joining the online revolution by the end of 2014. The initiative was announced on Monday last by Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Pat Rabbitte and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn. Other counties to get broadband in its secondary schools this year are Cavan, Louth, Clare, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan, Galway, Laois, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Longford and Westmeath. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is funding the project's €11m capital costs and some €10m in current costs over the years 2013-2015, while the Department of Education and Skills will fund the remaining current costs, estimated to be in the region of €20m to 2015, as well as ongoing costs on an annual basis into the future. Speaking at the project launch Minister Rabbitte said students' experience of using technology in everyday lives must be reflected in learning experiences in school and that the use of ICT must be integrated with traditional teaching methods for all subjects to prepare the digital workforce of the future. Meanwhile Minister Quinn said the proposed broadband connections are necessary building blocks to deliver a 21st century learning experience to all. Independent Tullamore town councillor Sean O'Brien welcomed the proposal that will see broadband installed in Tullamore's Sacred Heart School. Tullamore College, Colaiste Choilm, Ard Scoil Chiaran in Clara, Colaiste Naomh Chormac in Kilcormac, St Mary's Secondary School and Oaklands College in Edenderry, Gallen Community College in Ferbane and St Brendan's College in Birr. "I am delighted that Offaly schools are to be among the first to have the high speed broadband installed," he said. "As information technology is playing such an important part in our lives and in job creation possibilities, it is vital that our youth are given every chance possible to use this technology in order to prepare themselves for the future." Cllr O'Brien went on to say that such a move is vital if we are to position Ireland as an ICT centre of excellence. "Digital technology and high speed internet should no longer be regarded as luxuries as far as our schools are concerned as we seek to build a 21st century learning experience," he said. "Students use technology in their everyday lives on smart phones, game consoles and home computers, and this should be reflected in their learning experiences in schools."