The 3-year arrangement between the Department of Education and Science (DES) and five telecommunications companies - Eircom, Vodafone, O2, BT Ireland and Meteor – has expired.

The Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF), which represents the firms, said a new arrangement was unlikely because of the economic climate.

However, education department officials have written to TIF seeking an opportunity to “explore the potential for further collaboration”.

Tommy McCabe, director of TIF, said:

“This was never meant to be a continuous arrangement and it’s highly unlikely that it can be renegotiated given the present economic circumstances.

“A significant amount of money was provided but the three years are up. All of society needs to contribute to the cost of education.” 

According to media reports, some of the companies were concerned about how the scheme was operated.

While broadband, using expensive satellite suppliers, was supplied to a number of schools, it was claimed that the education department did not invest in ithe nfrastructure, such as computers, that would have allowed schools to make the most of broadband connectivity.

Under the scheme just ended, which ran from September 2005 to September 2008 and was then extended, the Department of Communications added €3m to TIF’s contribution. Of the TIF companies involved, Eircom was the biggest contributor. (Source: Sunday Times)