Schools Network

The HEAnet Schools Network plays an essential role in ensuring that Ireland’s schools have the high-speed internet access and security services they need to function in today’s digital world. We connect all primary and post-primary schools across Ireland to the internet, creating a safe online environment for more than one million students and teachers in over 3,900 schools every day. 

We have been delivering internet and network security services to all schools in Ireland since 2005. We provide a secure backbone to enable schools to connect to the internet, along with a variety of services, including internet content filtering, malware/DDoS protection, secure DNS and firewall services. The Schools Network supply the foundation for a thriving digital learning environment, ensuring that schools have the tools they need to prepare students for the future. 

We established the Schools Network in 2025 under the Irish Government’s Broadband for Schools Programme. Designed, built and managed by HEAnet, the network delivers universal coverage across Ireland’s schools with secure, high-speed connectivity ranging from a minimum speed of 200 Mbps up to 1 Gbps in post-primary schools, and a minimum of 100 Mbps in all primary schools. 

We go beyond infrastructure, collaborating with the Department of Education and Youth, Oide Technology in Education and other stakeholders to develop and implement initiatives that promote the safe and effective use of technology in Irish schools. 

Supported by our national infrastructure, we interconnect with over 20 providers to ensure universal coverage across the country, allowing all schools to benefit from reliable, secure, and high-speed connectivity, regardless of their location. 

 

Connectivity to Primary Schools 

With funding from the EU National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the Department of Education and Youth implemented a project to support students facing educational disadvantages due to limited digital access. The delivery of connectivity to even the most remote primary schools, with a minimum of 100 Mbps, has benefited more than 1,000 primary schools. The project was completed in Q1 2024.  

 

Internet Content Filtering 

We provide content filtering as part of our Schools Network services to provide a safe and controlled internet environment for students. This protects students from harmful or inappropriate content, helps to minimise distractions in the classroom and reduces the risk of malware infections. 

Our content filtering service restricts access to certain websites or categories of websites deemed inappropriate for a school setting. This could include sites with: 

• Adult or inappropriate content 

• Gambling or illegal activities 

• Social media (depending on the school’s policy) 

• Sites with potential for malware or phishing attacks 

 

Secure DNS 

Our secure DNS service provides a comprehensive first line of defence against internet-borne threats, integrating multiple security functions into a single, secure service, simplifying security management and improving overall protection. 

 

Firewalling & DDoS Mitigation 

Firewalls act as the first line of defence for any network, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic to block malicious activity. Our Schools Network’s advanced firewalling goes beyond traditional firewalls, offering a multi-layered approach to security, tailored specifically to schools. 

In today’s digital landscape, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are a growing threat. These attacks aim to overwhelm a network with a flood of traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. Our DDoS mitigation service acts as a shield, continuously monitoring and filtering malicious traffic before it can disrupt schools’ connectivity.

As schools’ traffic continues to grow, we upgraded the core network to increase backbone capacity to 300 Gbps, enabling future expansion and secure connectivity. 

With the core capacity and security services, this critical connectivity across primary and post-primary schools underpins one of the three pillars of the Department of Education’s Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 – Pillar 2 Digital Technology Infrastructure. We ensure that all schools are served with high-speed broadband connectivity and appropriate infrastructure to support teachers and learners in realising the benefits from the use of digital technologies in classroom activities, as well as providing technical support and procurement frameworks.

Reliable, ubiquitous broadband continues to transform the educational experience across the country, allowing teachers and students to develop their digital skills.  

In summary, we play a crucial role in connecting and empowering the Irish education and research community, facilitating collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of knowledge.  

 

HEAnet NOC and the Schools Broadband Service Desk (managed by Oide TiE) 

We provide a dedicated Schools Network Operations Centre (NOC) which delivers second-level support to the Schools Broadband Service Desk. 

The Schools Broadband Service Desk operated by Oide Technology in Education (https://www.oidetechnologyineducation.ie) provides first-line technical support for schools. 

For first-line technical support on your school broadband service, please contact: 

Schools Broadband Service Desk
Tel. 1800 33 44 66
Email: broadbandservicedesk@oide.ie 

• https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/ – Department of Education and Youth
• https://www.oidetechnologyineducation.ie – Oide Technology in Education

HEAnet delivers between 200 Mbps and 1 Gbps high-speed broadband to all of Ireland’s 800 post-primary schools on behalf of the Government. 

All schools are listed on the map below – click on an icon to see a school name.