This year's Education Show Ireland at the RDS could be an historic spending spree. Teachers will go along over three days from March 26th knowing that £25 million has been set aside by the Department of Education and Science for computer literacy.

John Mallon, of Apple Computer Sales, which has had a stand at the exhibition every year since it started, explains: "Teachers always saw what they wanted but they generally didn't have the money." This year, however, teachers know the money is there. Software on view will cover graphics, video editing, audio and animation. Band in the Box, for instance, is a musical package which, says Mallon, should allow any teenager compose a Eurovision winner.

Companies such as EDCO Interactive, a division of the Educational Company of Ireland, will be showing what's available in educational CD-ROMs. "People need to see it in operation," says marketing executive Leonie Lawlor. "It's not like a book that you can flick through. We can show most of the range and they can see if it's suitable for classes. We vet products before we take them into our range, so we can advise teachers."

Up to 18 companies specialising in computers and software to the education market will be at the exhibition. Teachers will be able to see almost every new product on the market. Other big names at the show include Discovery, NTS Computer Systems (Ireland) and Sun Microsystems.