Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 5

Written Answers. - CAIT Initiative.

John Perry

Ceist:

225 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Brothers of Charity Services provided training and support to people with learning disabilities, their families and care staff in Roscommon; his views on whether CAIT is about access for all to the new information and communications technologies, such as the Internet and is crucial to development as a fully inclusive information society; if the application for CAIT II funding will be approved; if he will instruct an official in his Department to meet this organisation to discuss funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22869/02]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

The CAIT initiative has sought to provide those at risk of exclusion from the benefits that the new information and communication technologies has brought with opportunities to participate in the information society. Information and communication technologies offer new solutions to traditional problems of disadvantage and social exclusion and the CAIT initiative has made a critical contribution within the context of wider social inclusion objectives.

Funding in excess of €7,448,000 has been committed to 121 projects under the CAIT I and CAIT II initiatives to date. Under the first CAIT initiative, the Brothers of Charity Services in Roscommon received €75,549. This funding is being used to provide assistance in technology and training, together with a supportive environment, that will encourage people with learning disabilities to access and to benefit from information and communication technologies.

On 5 May my Department received the proposal for funding submitted under the second CAIT initiative by the Brothers of Charity Services. A firm of independent assessors evaluates every proposal submitted. This application was not selected to receive an allocation of funding under the CAIT II initiative. The organisation was notified of this decision in writing on 9 October and a copy of the assessors' evaluation report was also enclosed.