Application for Grant Aidunder Thedormant Accounts (Educational Disadvantage) Fund

Circular 0035/2007

To: Principals & Boards of Management of Primary and PostPrimary Schoolparticipating in the School Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools)

APPLICATION FOR GRANT AIDUNDER THEDORMANT ACCOUNTS (EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE) FUND

- SMALL SCALE ICT GRANT SCHEME

Completed formsmust be returned no later than

22 May2007 to the appropriate Regional Office

The Department is operating a service to assist schools with any queries they might have on the Scheme or in completing application forms. The service will operate daily from 10am to 12:45 pm and 2:00 pm to 4.30pm. If you have a query please call (Lo Call 1890 40 20 40) and ask for the Regional Office serving your area or email the Regional Office serving your area.

DORMANT ACCOUNTS (EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE) FUND

SMALL SCALE ICT GRANT SCHEME FOR SCHOOLS

1.Introduction

The Minister for Education and Science is pleased to announce details of the abovementioned once–off scheme and to invite schools participating in the School Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools),to apply for a grant to fund ICT equipment that will be used to support children’s learning and development in accordance with the terms of this Circular Letter.

The scheme provides for small scale grants for the purchase of the following types of ICT equipment:

• Digital Camera
• Digital Video Camera
• Laptop
• Tablet PC
• Other Computer
• Data Projector
• Interactive Whiteboard (including software)
• Wireless mouse and keyboard
• Educational Software
• Other*

*Schools may apply, on an exceptional basis, for funding to purchase items not specifically listed above. However, in order to be eligible the school must clearly demonstrate the need for such items with reference to its ICT School Plan.

Under the scheme funding will be devolved to individual school authorities to purchase equipment with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department.

2.Eligibility

The Scheme is restricted to primary and post primary schools that are participating in the School Support Programme under DEIS.

3.How to apply for grant aid under the scheme

Applications formscan be downloaded from the Department’s website www.education.gov.ie.

Completed forms and supporting documentation where appropriate, must be fully signed off by the relevant representatives of the school authority and returned to the appropriate Regional Office. (See Appendix A for details.) Envelopes should be marked ‘Dormant Accounts ICT Grant Scheme’.

If application forms are being returned by email the original application must be signed by the relevant representatives of the school authority and retained on file in the school.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 22 May 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

4.Timetable for the Scheme

Publication of scheme details and application forms / 16 April 2007
Closing date for receipt of applications / 22May 2007
Publication of list of successful applicants / August / September 2007
Claim for drawdown of grant by successful applicants / 30 November 2007

5.Funding Available

A total of €3.4 million has been made available from the Dormant Accounts Fund to fund the scheme.

Schools are not required to provide match funding for projects per se. However, where there is a shortfall in funding a project, this shortfall must be paid for by the school.

6.Level of Grant Aid Assistance

The maximum level of grant aid available to a school is based on the number of pupils enrolled @ 30 September 2006 in accordance with the official records held by the Department.

Number of Pupils / Grant per school
€ / Number of Pupils / Grant per school
€
< 99 / 2,500 / 550-599 / 8,500
100-149 / 3,000 / 600-649 / 9,000
150-199 / 3,500 / 650-700 / 9,500
200-249 / 4,000 / 700-749 / 10,000
250-299 / 5,500 / 750-799 / 10,500
300-349 / 6,000 / 800-849 / 11,000
350-399 / 6,500 / 850-899 / 11,500
400-449 / 7,000 / 900-949 / 12,000
450-499 / 7,500 / 950-999 / 12,500
450-499 / 7,500 / 950-999 / 12,500
500-549 / 8,000 / 1,000 plus / 13,000

The actual grant paid to successful applicants will be whichever is the lesser of (i) the amount of grant aid approved by the Department in its letter of approval or (ii) the verified actual cost of the equipment purchased.

7.Acknowledgement of funding

Schools will be required to acknowledge that approved projects are being funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund. Further guidance on this matter will be included in the letter of approval.

8.Advice Sheets

Advice sheets providing information on various types of ICT equipment, their possible educational uses and, where relevant, technical and purchasing considerations, are available from the NCTE’s website at

9.Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix B contains a set of Questions and Answers to the most common queries in relation to this scheme.

10.Freedom of Information Act

Applicants are reminded that the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 and 2003 apply. As such it should be noted that the Department may be obliged to release information submitted to the Department under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 and 2003.

Department of Education and Science

April 2007

Circular 0035/2007 - Appendix A

Areas Served and Contact Details for Regional Offices

Lo-Call: 1890 40 20 40 – This service will allow you contact any one of the 10 Regional Offices.

Area Served / Regional Office – Address & Contact Details
DublinCity, Fingal County Council / Dublin City/Fingal Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
1st Floor Findlater House
Cathal Brugha Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 8896765
Email:
South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown / Dublin South County Regional Office Department of Education & Science
County Hall
Belgard Square North
Tallaght
Dublin 24
Tel: 01 4635500
Email:
Kildare, Wicklow / Kildare /Wicklow Regional Office Department of Education & Science
The Maudlins
Naas
Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 848500
Email:
Clare, Limerick, Tipperary NR. / Mid Western Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
Rosbrien Road
Punch's Cross
Limerick
Tel: 061 430000
Email:
Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath / Midland Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
Friar's Mill Road
Mullingar
Co Westmeath
Tel: 044 9337000
Email:
Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan / North Eastern Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
1st Floor Beechmount Centre
Navan
Co. Meath
Tel: 0469067410
Email:
Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo / North Western Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
Kempten Promenade
Bridge Street
Sligo
Tel: 071 9135700
Email:
Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary SR, Waterford, Wexford / South Eastern Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
JohnstownBusinessPark
Waterford
Tel: 051 310000
Email:
Cork, Kerry / Southern Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
HeritageBusinessPark
Mahon
Cork
Tel: 021 4536300
Email:
Galway, Mayo, Roscommon / Western Regional Office
Department of Education & Science
Victoria Place
Eyre Square
Galway
Tel: 091 864500
Email:

Circular 0035/2007 - Appendix B

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the closing date for return of completed application forms?

The closing date for completed application forms is 22 May 2007.

How must forms be returned and to where?

Completed application forms and supporting documentation where appropriate should be returned by post or email to the appropriate Regional Office (See Appendix A for details). Envelopes should be marked ‘Dormant Accounts ICT Grant Scheme’. If application forms are being returned by email the original application must be signed by the relevant representatives of the school authority and retained on file in the school.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Scheme is restricted to primary and post primary schools who are participating in the School Support Programme under DEIS.

How will projects be assessed?

Projects will be assessed having regard to the eligibility of the school, the amount of grant aid applied for and the type of ICT equipment applied for.

What is the amount of the grant?

The maximum levels of grant aid available to a school is based on the number or pupils enrolled @ 30 September 2006 in accordance with the official records held by the Department. The amounts are set out in section 6 above.

Is the school guaranteed this amount?

No, the actual grant paid to successful applicants will be whichever is the lesser of; (i) the amount of grant aid approved by the Department in its letter of approval or (ii) the verified actual cost of the project.

Will the school authority be required to make a local contribution towards the project?

The scheme is not structured on the basis that the grant aid must be supplemented by local fundraising. It does, however, allow a school to supplement the funding from local resources if it so decides.

Can the Department withdraw an offer of grant-aid?

Yes, the grant sanction will automatically lapse if a valid claim form in respect of the specified ICT equipment is not submitted by 30 November 2007. Further, the Department retains the option of altering/withdrawing the offer of grant aid if it is considered by the Department that a change in the local circumstances issufficient to warrant this.

At what point will the grant be paid?

Schools must submit a valid claim form in respect of the specified ICT equipment to the appropriate Regional Office before 30 November 2007. The grant will be paid before 31 December 2007.

What combination of ICT equipment would be most effective?

Advice sheets providing information on various types of ICT equipment, their possible educational uses and, where relevant, technical and purchasing considerations, are available from the NCTE’s website at

Have any aggregated purchasing arrangements been put in place?

Details about aggregated purchasing arrangements in place and how schools can avail of these arrangements will be sent to successful applicants with the letter of approval.

Will training be made available for schools?

Yes, the NCTE has agreed to provide appropriate training to support the scheme. Further information in relation to training will be provided to successful applicants in due course.

Is my school in a RAPID / CLÁR or Local Drugs Taskforce Area?

Details on RAPID and the areas covered by the scheme can be accessed on

Details on CLÁR and the areas covered by the scheme can be accessed on

Details on the Local Drugs Taskforce areas can be accessed on

What records must be kept?

All expenditure in connection with the scheme must be vouched and all documentation must be retained by the school authority for a minimum period of seven years in the event of an audit inspection by the Department and/or Comptroller and Auditor General.

Please note that the Department will be undertaking random audits and inspections of schools participating in this scheme.

Why are random audits done?

In accordance with standard practice, payment of grants is conditional on the Department being satisfied that the school has followed proper procedures and retained appropriate records.

Primary and Post Primary Schools participating in the School Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools)

APPLICATION FORM FOR GRANT AIDUNDER THEDORMANT ACCOUNTS (EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE)SMALL SCALE ICT GRANT SCHEME FOR SCHOOLS

Completed forms must be returned to the appropriate Regional Office no later than 22 May 2007

The Department is operating a service to assist schools with any queries they might have on the Scheme or in completing application forms. The service will

operate daily from 10 am to 12:45 pm and 2:00 pm to 4.30 pm. If you have a query please call (Lo Call 1890 40 20 40) and ask for the Regional Office serving your area or email the Regional Office serving your area.

IMPORTANT NOTE – SELF ASSESSMENT

Before proceeding to complete this form, you are advised to carefully read Circular Letter 0035 / 2007 and to satisfy yourself in relation to the eligibility of your project.

CHECKLIST

• Have you read the guidelines?

• Have you completed all the questions in the form that apply to your application?

• Have you attached a copy of your school’s ICT Plan, if appropriate?

• Have you signed the declaration in Section 3?

Completed applications and supporting documentation, if appropriate, must be returned to the Regional Office serving your area by email or post. If application forms are being returned by email the original application must be signed by the Chairperson of the Board of Management and retained on file in the school.

See Appendix A of Circular Letter 0035/2007 for details of the Regional Office serving your area.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 22 May 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

Reference Number

For official use only

Section 1:General Information

1.1School Details

Roll Number:
School Name:
Address:
School Telephone No:
School e-mail address:

1.2Contact details for all correspondence in connection with this application

Name:
Position:
Address:
Telephone No:
e-mail address:

1.3Is your school in:

a RAPID Area?Yes No

a CLÁR Area?Yes No

a Local Drugs Task Force Area?Yes No

If yes, please name the area(s)

______

______

Section 2:Details of Grant Sought

2.1Please indicate what equipment is being sought

Equipment / Quantity / Estimated Cost
Digital Camera
Digital Video Camera
Laptop
Tablet PC
Other Computer
Data Projector
Interactive Whiteboard (including software)
Wireless mouse and keyboard
Educational Software
Other* (Please complete section 2.2 below)
Total Grant Aid Sought

The maximum grant aid available to a school is based on the number of pupils enrolled @ 30 September and is set out in section 6 of Circular 0035/2007.

Please complete section 2.2 below, only if applying for funding for ICT equipment other than that specified above.

2.2Other items of ICT Equipment

Schools may apply, on an exceptional basis, for funding to purchase items not specifically listed above. However, in order to be eligible the school must clearly demonstrate the need for such items with reference to its ICT School Plan.

Please indicate what ‘other’ equipment is being sought

Type of Equipment / Quantity / Estimated Cost

Describe the need for the other items of equipment. (Please attach a copy of the school’s ICT Plan)

Please continue on a separate sheet if required.

Section 3:Declaration and Certification

Authority and responsibility for the proper execution of the project, if approved for grant aid, is devolved to the Board of Management.

As Chairperson of the Board of Management /Manager / CEO of (insert name of school below)

______

I, the undersigned, apply for a grant towards the purchase of the ICT equipment described in this application and declare that all the information given is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I acknowledge that any funds awarded must be used for the purpose stated and not used to replace existing funding. I also understand that information supplied in or accompanying this application may be made available on request under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.

I confirm that:

the application has the support of the Board of Management;

the proposed project is to be carried out within the confines of the vested school area; and,

the local contribution, if applicable, will be available towards the cost of the project if approved.

I also accept, as a condition for the award of a grant, that it involves no commitment to any other grants from the Dormant Accounts Fund or from the Department of Education and Science or from any Government Department. The Board of Management is agreeable to have the project monitored by the Department of Education and Science or its agents and to allow access to its premises and records, as necessary, for that purpose.

Name: ______

(block capitals)

Signed:______

Position:______

Date: ______

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