The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to St Joseph’s National School as part of its new national programme to provide cash injections to schools in every county throughout 2026.  

Supporting technology investments that enhance digital learning and maximise the benefits of high-speed broadband connectivity, The RISE Community Fund is backed by National Broadband Ireland and partners involved in the delivery of the Government’s National Broadband Plan, including KPMG, DreamDev Technologies, TLI Group, Entegro, Obelisk and Circet.

St Joseph’s National School is a welcoming rural primary school located in in the townland of Killenummery, Dromahair, Co Leitrim. The grant will enable the school to move forward with a number of technology investments that are planned to significantly enhance teaching, learning and digital skills development across the school.

Nuala Gallagher, Principal at St Joseph’s National School,commented:“We are currently operating with four iPads for a growing school community of 56 pupils. This funding will allow us to purchase additional iPads and associated software to ensure equitable access for all pupils across class levels. 

“Working with our Deputy Principal Evan Sweeney, this investment will strengthen digital literacy, support inclusive education and ensure we are equipped to meet the demands of the new Maths curriculum and future STEM-focused learning. We are very grateful to the RISE Community Fund for their support in making this possible.”

Established by David McCourt, the RISE Community Fund has awarded close to 200 cash grants nationwide to rural schools, community groups, farms, small businesses and social enterprises seeking to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work. 

Commenting on the grant, David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland and founder of the RISE Community Fund, said: “When we created RISE, it was with a clear purpose – to ensure that rural communities could fully benefit from the transformative power of connectivity. As the National Broadband Plan progresses towards completion, it’s vital that our schools are equipped not just with access to broadband, but with the technology that allows them to use it effectively. St Joseph’s National School has done a fantastic job investing in technology to empower their young pupils, and now we’re delighted to accelerate that further with this grant.”

Through its 2026 national schools programme, RISE aims to ensure that children in rural Ireland can fully benefit from digital connectivity and develop the skills needed to thrive in a modern, technology-driven world.

National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Leitrim residents to visit nbi.ie and check their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect and to find out more about placing an order.

Further information about the RISE Community Fund is available at www.riseglobalfoundation.com.