Ceist:
37 Dr. Upton asked the Taoiseach the steps being taken to ensure that information technology is available to every citizen and that social inequality is not worsened by lack of access to technology. [17354/00]
Written Answers. - Information Technology.
The Government is aware that access to information technology is central to the development of the information society in Ireland. Consequently the issue of access has been focused on in the Government action plan – Implementing the Information Society in Ireland. Arising out of the action plan, the Information Society Commission published a report on this issue in March of this year.
The Taoiseach is very conscious of the importance of developing a fully inclusive information society, in which everyone can participate and enjoy the benefits. Accordingly, he has put in place an interdepartmental group to further progress the access for all issue. The group will examine the numerous recommendations in the ISC's report with a view to each individual department supporting and progressing such measures as are agreed to be appropriate within its areas of responsibility.
The group's primary objective is to ensure that Government policy, as implemented by the various Departments, will ensure that people are not excluded from participation in the information society by virtue of personal, economic or social circumstances. In particular the group is focusing on three areas: access to the necessary technologies; ability to use the technologies; and incentive to use these technologies, by ensuring that the content makes such technologies relevant to the widest spectrum of users. Departments will continue to be responsible for taking forward those access aspects identified by the group which are relevant to their own areas of responsibility.