Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason behind the removal of funding for the 'getting citizens online fund'; if it will be restored going forward to assist vulnerable and isolated members of the community in accessing services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/23]
View answerIn December 2016, as a demonstration initiative under Strand 2 of the first National Digital Strategy, my Department entered Grant Agreements with 15 organisations to deliver basic digital skills training under the ‘Digital Skills for Citizens Grant Scheme’.
It was a matter for each entity to determine the number of citizens they proposed to train. Pre-funded grants were paid by way of instalment and all payments were subject to verification that specified training targets were met. My Department envisaged that 25,000 citizens, at a cost of €2.2m would be trained annually over a three year period.
Since training commenced in 2017, €5.5 million was invested in providing training to 61,000 participants. The final payments permitted under the Grant Agreements for the Scheme were paid to grantees in December 2019. The date for completion of training was extended due to Covid-19 restrictions and the scheme closed in February 2023 once all training obligations were delivered.
The Deputy might be interested to know the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) published the ‘Adult Literacy for Life – a 10-year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy’. This strategy aims to ensure every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. In addition, DFHERIS is the lead Department in delivering digital skills for the wider Society as provided in the Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework.
