The aim of IT2000 is to integrate available good education and information software into schools, says NCTE director Jerome Morrissey. "If we're to integrate this new resource, we have to equip schools and train teachers. We have to train young people in the new technology and we must do this in an applied way."

There is no hope of doing this, he says, without having the equipment in place - "and the equipment will be left in boxes if we don't train teachers both in IT skills and the pedagogical significance of IT integration. Teachers need to identify and use high-quality interactive software."

He admits that much software is British- and European-based and needs to be localised. But, there are a lot of culture-free areas such as maths and science where the tweaking needed is minimal, he says.

This autumn, NCTE will be talking to industry about developing specific software. A number of interesting proposals have been put forward by the subject teacher associations, he notes.

Calling software another tool to be used in the classroom, he says it will "become like a book. It will enhance teaching and provide a new menu of material. It will not make teachers redundant. It should enhance the academic process not nullify it."

The NCTE's five-strong staff are based in DCU. There are four national co-ordinators - Seonad Cook looks after the teaching skills initiative, John Hurley takes care of ScoilNet, Seamus Knox is in charge of the Schools' Integration Project and Ann Phelan looks after special education. Morrissey hopes the staff will soon be augmented by two more co-ordinators.

"It's a small team," says Morrissey. "We've been up and running only since mid-March. It's scary what's happening. A lot has been achieved in a short space of time." No stranger to innovation, Morrissey was principal of one of Ireland's leading PLC colleges - Ballyfermot Senior College.