ICS Skills welcome EU Commission report showing the rise in Ireland’s digital engagement

ICS Skills have welcomed the report published by the EU Commission showing a rise in the level of internet use and digital engagement. They hope to continue to impact on digital literacy nationwide, with the recent decision by Minster for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources – Pat Rabbitte T.D. to extend the availability of basic digital skills training under the BenefIT3 scheme.

Ireland’s latest scorecard from the EU Commission published for 2012 shows significant improvements in levels of internet use and digital engagement. The level of regular internet usage has increased 8 percentage points since 2010 and is now above the EU average. This coupled with the progress shown regarding those who have never used the internet which has decreased by 6 percentage points and increase of internet use by disadvantaged people by 10 percentage points, shows how significant initiatives like ICS Skill’s “Get Ireland Online” are in enabling digital literacy for all in Ireland.

ICS Skills launched the ‘Get Ireland Online’ programme in October 2011 having being selected to provide training under the BenefIT 3 scheme. As part of this, ICS Skills are providing nearly 5000 people with basic IT skills to equip them with the ability to take advantage of opportunities most people now take for granted in over 50 locations around Ireland.

Participants on the Get Ireland Online (www.getirelandonline.ie ) programme which runs weekly and costs just twenty euro, are taught how to make use of the web, send email, use internet telephone services like Skype and do shopping and banking online during three 2 hour classes. Of those who have availed of training under the scheme 36% are aged 65 or older, 24% were unemployed, over 7% were people with a disability. About three people in 10 said they felt they would be able to teach the skills they had learned to someone else and almost one person in three said that as a result of doing the course they intended to buy a computer, laptop or similar access device soon.

Commenting on the recent EU scorecard Dr. Albert Jordan, Programme Director for the BenefIT Scheme said “This positive performance has come about through a wide range of initiatives currently operating in Ireland seeking to address digital inclusion and engagement issues. Undoubtedly the many training and delivery partners, organisations, trainers and volunteers operating under the BenefIT scheme deserve significant credit for this. There are however many more people that still need to be reached and assisted. ”

“The ‘Get Ireland Online’ training has been very popular. This is clear from the very positive feedback we are getting from our participants on a daily basis regarding the beneficial impact it has had on their lives. As more businesses move their services online, serious challenges exist to those who are unable to do the necessary day to day activities such as banking and paying bills.” said Jim Friars, CEO of the Irish Computer Society. “We are delighted to see that initiatives like ours are improving Ireland’s digital progress and we remain committed to ensuring everyone is equipped with the basic e-skills so that no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world.”

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