National Digital Strategy Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Ceisteanna (570)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

570. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will examine an application to the national digital strategy, Knowledge Society Division in Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, in his Department, by a committee (details supplied) in County Kerry as the recently closed primary school is now a focal point of the local community for various activities and the requested computers are vital for the various classes and activities developed by the community organisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3826/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Under the Government’s National Digital Strategy, my Department, through its BenefIT Programme, supports community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in the provision of basic digital literacy training for citizens. It does not, however, directly fund the purchase of computers as requested in the correspondence from the Committee referred to in the Question.

The latest call for grant applications under the BenefIT programme closed in August 2014. All funds available under the programme have since been allocated with my announcement in December last that 29 additional organisations had secured funding, following the conclusion of the competitive evaluation process.

Internet training will be taking place throughout 2015 and is now available at some 700 locations nationwide. Further details can be found on my Department’s website at National Digital Strategy - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

My officials will respond directly to the Committee to advise them of the training opportunities and offer any advice available in relation to alternative approaches to obtaining the computers they wish to acquire.