BSP Measure 2.5

Priority 2 (Employment)

Measure 5 (Education and Training ICT and Infrastructure Support)

This Measure, funded through Classroom 2000 (C2k), will provide a significant level of infrastructure support for ICT teaching and learning at the post primary and special schools level. The facilities provided will improve the standard and effectiveness of the learning experience.

Assistance towards the cost of general infrastructure support such as network access, learning resources will also be provided. This will enable more effective delivery of other Measures in this Priority. The Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) will implement this element of the measure.

The objective is to:

ensure adequate support infrastructure to meet the education/training needs of: -

All post primary and special school students
Community/voluntary sector organisations providing European Social Fund (ESF) training under the Employment Priority (DEL)

Actions include:

Provision of ICT network infrastructure and learning resources
Adaptation of buildings, for example for the provision of childcare facilities
Modifications to facilitate trainees with disabilities
Provision of modern training equipment

Projects will be selected on their ability to:

deliver outcomes at least to the minimum appropriate quality standard
complement other mainstream learning and training initiatives
build upon recognised best practice initiatives
make a significant contribution towards raising skill levels, including basic skills

The Department of Education will apply the horizontal principles as specified in Section 2 of the Programme Complement.

Progress will be measured on:

All post primary and special schools to have a ratio of at least 1 personal computer to 9 pupils
Local area networks installed and to linked to a wide area network
A system integrator providing a managed ICT service
All successful ESF funded projects to have an adequate level of infrastructure support as is required to make the project viable
All schools to be using the managed service providing curricular resources and broadband connectivity
All students will experience the use of ICT across all areas of the curriculum
All students will spend, on average, 10 percent of the weekly timetable using ICT facilities to support learning across the curriculum

This Measure will be funded from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant of up to 50 percent of eligible expenditure.

The total value of this measure is €122 m. The EU contribution from ERDF is €61 m with €61 m match funding from the Department.

The funds will be allocated to eligible projects during the period 2000 to 2005 and final allocations will be available for spending up to 31 December 2007.

For more information go to the BSP Measure 2.5 target indicators page.