1566. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total ICT grant funding provided to schools in each year from 2019 to 2026; the projected allocation for 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64032/26]

As the Deputy is aware, in December 2025, I announced €35 million in funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in January 2026. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to enable the continued embedding of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment. This is the fourth tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

Including the €35m that issued in January 2026, a total of €170 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year it is anticipated that providing €35m this year, will enable the balance of €30 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027. Clarity and certainty are being provided for school systems regarding the annual grant payment timeline, which is now set for the December/January payment period each year.

In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide.

This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment and builds on the €210m in grants that issued under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020.

The information requested is broken down in the following table.

*To note, no ICT Grant funding issues in 2022-2023 school year.