02 Jul Digital Strategy for Schools 2027: What Irish Schools Need to Do Now

Ireland’s Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 is the national roadmap for transforming how Irish schools use technology and with less than two years to go, every school should know where they stand. This blog breaks down the strategy in plain English, explains the three pillars it’s built around, and gives you a practical checklist to see if your school is on track.

What Is the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027?

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 is Ireland’s official framework for integrating digital technology into primary and post-primary education. Published by the Department of Education in 2022, it builds on lessons from the 2015–2020 strategy and the rapid shift to remote learning during COVID.

The goal: Every learner should leave school with the digital skills needed for modern life, work, and further study. Every teacher should feel confident using digital tools. Every classroom should have the infrastructure to support both. The strategy is organised around three pillars, each tackling a different part of the digital transformation challenge.

Pillar 1: Digital Technology in Teaching and Learning

This pillar is about making digital tools a natural part of everyday teaching. Not technology for its own sake technology with clear pedagogical purpose. What this looks like in practice:

• Teachers using interactive displays and projectors as part of normal lesson delivery
• Students collaborating on cloud-based documents during class
• Digital resources integrated into every subject, not just IT
• Assessment methods that use digital tools alongside traditional ones

The research backs it up. OECD studies show that students who use digital tools in a balanced, purposeful way perform better academically and feel more engaged in school.

What this means for your school: Your classroom AV setup needs to be reliable enough that teachers actually use it. If projectors are dim or wireless connections drop mid-lesson, teachers give up and digital teaching stalls.

Pillar 2: Teacher Skills and Professional Learning

This pillar recognises that technology investment means nothing without teachers who feel confident using it. What this looks like in practice:

• Regular CPD supported by Oide Technology in Education
• Digital skills embedded in initial teacher education
• School leaders championing digital transformation
• Ongoing peer learning between teachers

The gap is significant. Recent Microsoft Ireland research found that 83% of Irish teachers say they haven’t received adequate training to use tech effectively. Closing this gap is central to the strategy’s success.

What this means for your school: When you plan an AV upgrade, don’t stop at installation. Make sure your supplier provides handover training, ongoing support, and documentation teachers can actually use.

Pillar 3: Infrastructure, Policy, and Leadership

This is the foundation pillar — the infrastructure and policy framework that enables everything else. What this looks like in practice:

• High-speed broadband via the Schools Broadband Programme
• ICT Grant Scheme funding for schools
• Extra support for DEIS schools and special schools
• Strong policies around online safety and digital ethics
• Modern AV hardware in every classroom

What this means for your school: Infrastructure comes first. You can’t deliver the other two pillars if the hardware isn’t there to support them.

5 Questions to Ask About Your School’s Digital Strategy 2027 Progress

Use this quick checklist to see where your school stands:

1. Are your classroom projectors fit for purpose? Laser projectors are the modern standard. Lamp-based projectors that fade, fail, or need constant maintenance will hold you back.
2. Can teachers share content wirelessly? AirPlay, Miracast, and Epson iProjection should be available in every room so teachers can cast from laptops, tablets, and phones.
3. Is the cabling modern? HDMI throughout is the minimum. Legacy VGA connections don’t support modern devices.
4. Is the audio good enough? Good speakers matter for video content, language learning, and accessibility. Tinny built-in projector speakers aren’t enough.
5. Is your setup consistent across classrooms? Teachers shouldn’t need to relearn how to use the tech every time they move rooms.

If you answered “no” to any of these, you have work to do before 2027.

5 Practical Steps to Get on Track

1. Audit your current AV setup. Walk through every classroom. Note what works, what doesn’t, and what’s missing. This gives you a factual baseline to plan from.
2. Prioritise by impact. Upgrade the most-used rooms first — where teachers are most engaged with digital methods and where the benefit will be felt most.
3. Plan across budget cycles. Few schools can upgrade everything at once. A phased plan across two or three years is realistic and achievable.
4. Invest in laser technology. Laser projectors last up to 20,000 hours and eliminate lamp replacement costs. The upfront cost is higher, but total cost of ownership is lower.
5. Choose an experienced Irish AV partner. Look for a supplier that understands Irish schools, has a track record of multi-room installations, and supports you after the job is done.

How Santa Sabina Dominican College Got Ahead of the Curve

Santa Sabina Dominican College in Dublin recently completed a full AV refresh with us replacing 32 ageing projector systems with modern Epson laser projectors across every teaching space.

What they now have:

• Consistent, reliable AV in every classroom
• Wireless content sharing ready to go
• Laser projectors with no lamp changes for years to come
• A foundation that supports whatever digital teaching approaches they adopt

Get Your Digital Strategy 2027 Roadmap

With less than two years until the strategy’s target date, now is the time to act. Whether you need a full-school refresh or just a few rooms upgraded, we can help you plan a realistic path forward. Call 01 466 0515 or contact us online to book a free consultation. We’ll assess your current setup, identify priorities, and build a practical roadmap that fits your budget.