Vol. 524 No. 2
336 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government 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. [22101/00]
My Department, in partnership with local authorities and bodies under its aegis, is committed to the use of information and communication technology – ICT – to provide enhanced and more cost effective delivery of services. Action on these fronts will promote improved awareness of the benefits of ICT generally as a by-product of the introduction and expansion of various ICT programmes.
More specifically, my Department, in conjunction with the Information Society Commission, provided grant aid of over £1.5 million for the installation of 783 Internet PCs for public access in 277 public libraries in 1999. A further £800,000 has been allocated this year. An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, funded with an Information Society grant of £70,000, has recently recruited six trainers to provide training to library authority staff across the country. The staff will then be in a position to provide assistance to members of the public in the use of Internet PCs.
I have also recently launched a pilot scheme in six public libraries to provide optical scanners for the visually impaired. Following the assessment of this scheme, I expect that 125 optical scanners will be installed in public libraries.
