Schools to get laptops in €22m new year boost

SCHOOLS are to get the classroom laptop computers and digital projects promised by the Government under a €22 million investment in the new year.

The grants for more than 3,200 primary schools, ranging from €1,800 to €33,000, were announced by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and Taoiseach Brian Cowen last month as part of a €150m boost to schools technology over the next three years. A range of funding for second-level schools will be unveiled by the minister early in 2010.

The long-awaited investment has been prompted by the report of a high-level task force to the Government on the need to improve technology in Irish classrooms.