The High speed 100Mbit/sec broadband programme delivers high-speed broadband to all Post-Primary schools and in addition to some Special Schools with post-primary students. This high-speed schools broadband programme is jointly funded by the Department of Education and Skills (DES), (www.education.ie) and Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) (www.dcenr.gov.ie). The Schools Broadband Team consists of the two Departments, along with HEAnet and PDST Technology in Education (formerly NCTE). Schools are being provided with a high-speed 100Mbit/sec connection and with a managed school router, centralised content filtering, centralised firewalling, anti-virus, and associated services. If schools have specific queries on their broadband connection they should contact the Schools Broadband Service Desk at 1800 334466 or at servicedesk@ncte.ie.

The programme overview including the various phases are as follows:

Programme overview:

2010 (Pilot - Completed):
During the 2010 pilot programme 78 schools around the country, including at least one school in each county, received a high speed 100Mbit/sec broadband connection, and associated services. The pilot was very successful and paved the way for the service to be introduced nationwide.

2012 (Phase 1 – This has been completed):
During Phase 1 of the 100Mbit/sec programme a further approx' 200 Post-Primary Schools in addition to some Special Schools with post-primary students were installed in the 14 counties of Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

2013-Feb 2014 (Phase 2 Programme – this is currently in progress):
During Phase 2 a further approx' 210 Post-Primary Schools in addition to some Special Schools with post-primary students are currently being installed in the 3 counties of Dublin, Kildare and Meath. Installations of connections and new routers have begun to place starting in October 2013 and all are expected to be completed by February 2014.

Early 2014 (Phase 3 - This will start in early 2014):
During Phase 3 the remaining approx’ 240 Post-Primary Schools in addition to some Special Schools with post-primary students will be installed in the 9 counties of Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow. Please note we won’t be in a position to provide more specific details on the 2014 installation programme until early 2014, i.e., after Phase 2 of the programme is completed. In early 2014 all schools to be connected in these counties will be contacted and invited to attend a regional meeting/seminar where all aspects of the programme will be presented and explained in detail.

Related Links: First 78 Schools fully connected (4 October 2010), Programme Launch (25 June 2009).