To ask the Minister for the Economy how the newly announced support for students to help address digital poverty will be delivered.

As part of the recently announced enhanced student support package, the Department will provide an allocation to the Universities to assist with digital inclusion. Recent evidence suggests that the key areas for remedy are difficulties with accessing a suitable computer device, and challenges with internet connectivity, as higher education teaching and assessment is being delivered online.

As such, an allocation will be made to the higher education institutions to support digital inclusion through the purchase of laptops and/or the enabling of enhanced Wi-Fi/4G access.