To ask the Minister of Education to detail whether laptops and other IT equipment distributed to pupils to address digital poverty are able to be accessed by the pupils (i) all year round; (ii) during term time; or (iii) during periods of working from home.

I can advise schools have been informed that the devices received from the “Lending of Digital Devices Scheme” shall remain with them into the upcoming school year. This measure is to provide continuing support for learning to disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils. Additionally, within this provision there is a degree of flexibility given to principals to make decisions at a local level on the redistribution of devices returned by school leavers, to best meet vulnerable learners’ needs.

A small contingency of devices has been retained in case of further lock down or to replace damaged devices.