Written Answers. - Information Technology.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
231
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Finance
the schemes and supports available from his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department to schools, businesses, community groups and individuals, to promote information technology, including (i) greater awareness of relevance, (ii) to develop skills and (iii) have access to computers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22099/00]
Overall Government policy on the development of the information society is set out in the report, Implementing the Information Society in Ireland: An Action Plan, published by the Department of the Taoiseach in January 1999. The action plan sets out a series of measures and initiatives considered central to the development of the information society and giving Ireland "first mover" advantage in the emerging information economy.
In response to the action plan, my Department has established a special dedicated fund, the information society fund, designed to support not only the development of flagship e-government and e-commerce projects identified in the action plan, but also key initiatives designed to provide ready access to the Internet and to achieve a high level of IT literacy and capability throughout the general public and the business community.
In the area of information technology, IT, awareness, funding has been provided for a number of awareness campaigns co-ordinated by the Information Society Commission targeting both citizens and the business community. Internet access is now available for the general public at public libraries throughout the country. Additional measures are currently being considered by an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and a number of proposals addressing the "digital divide" and targeting late adopters of IT are expected in the near future.
In the business area, major e-commerce awareness and capacity building projects are being co-ordinated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland's accelerator programme for SMEs, and the city and county enterprise boards' empower programme for micro enterprises.
The action plan also identifies the importance of promoting the use of IT in schools and third level institutions. Major programmes in the education sector include the Schools IT 2000 and IT skills initiative which are being funded and managed by the Department of Education and Science.
Under the information society fund, proposals for funding are assessed by the information society fund evaluation team which is chaired by my Department and which includes representation from the Department of the Taoiseach. In 1999, an amount of £1.7 million was allocated to action plan projects and at this stage, £20.6 million from the £30 million available for 2000 has so far been approved for expenditure on 56 projects sponsored by 16 Departments and Offices.
My Department fully recognises the importance of IT in the emerging information society and information economy and will continue to actively promote its use in achieving the objectives of the action plan.
