John Bruton
Question:63 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if the Information Society Commission is involved in the fasttrack to information technology initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1698/00]
Written Answers. - Information Society Commission.
John Bruton
Question:64 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the Information Society Commission's business community survey. [1724/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
The results of the Information Society Commission's business community survey were published in December last. Overall, the results suggest that Irish businesses are making strong moves to embrace information and communication technology and are more engaged in e-business. While businesses now have a very positive attitude to e-commerce, actual levels are still relatively low. It is also apparent that small and medium enterprises, in particular, need to do more to keep up with technological changes in the marketplace.
The main findings of the survey are that the vast majority of Irish businesses are now familiar with the terms and services relating to new technology; one third of Irish businesses have more than 75% of their employees using computers; Internet access in the business community compares competitively with the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the USA, Canada and Japan; use of websites for on-line sales by Irish businesses is still relatively low; Irish businesses are more enthusiastic about the information society than their international counterparts; businesses are concerned about IT skills shortages but need to do more to provide training for their staff; and small and medium enterprises are more at risk of being left behind in the e-economy.
Some of these findings have been confirmed by other studies carried out recently, including one by Andersen Consulting, entitled eIreland Takes Off. The findings relating to SMEs are a cause for concern. A range of awareness measures have been put in place, including a national awareness campaign for SMEs run by the commission with IBEC, which involves a series of seminars around the country with the objective of demonstrating the importance of e-commerce to SMEs. Enterprise Ireland has also enhanced the services it offers to SMEs in the e-commerce and information society area.
Turning to the fasttrack to information technology initiative, the Information Society Commission has no direct involvement in this scheme, though it did welcome it in its most recent annual report, saying that it provides a model which can be applied to other sectors and other regions.
The fasttrack to information technology initiative, also known as FIT, aims to provide training and employment in the IT industry for 3,500 people in the Dublin area over three years. The scheme, aimed primarily at the long-term unemployed, is being driven by the IT industry itself, which is assisting in a number of ways, including the development of training curriculums, providing internships, contributing to operating costs and, ultimately, providing jobs and career development paths for the trainees.
I announced this scheme in March of last year. Since then, over 700 people have entered training courses, which are being provided by FÁS and the vocational education committees. More recently, around 60 people have moved on from training into full-time jobs, and the scheme is on target to meet the original first year projection of 900 trainees.
In the past few weeks a formal board of the FIT organisation was established. Many senior industry people are on this board, and representatives of the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment will shortly join them.