Computer school lacks broadband

THE education of students at Ireland’s first all-computer secondary school is being curtailed because they do not have access to broadband, it was claimed yesterday.

The principal of Colaiste Chiarain in Croom, Co Limerick school where students use laptops instead of books, warned students are being disadvantaged because they cannot get access to the high-speed internet connection, despite repeated requests to Eircom.

“We have satellite broadband, but this is totally inadequate as at any one time between classroom and computer rooms we could have more than 500 users trying to access broadband. We are just six miles from the Dell plant which have supported the computer programme in the school by donating more than 70 laptops. But we cannot get a broadband connection. It’s just crazy, incredible,” said principal Noel Malone.