merrion street

Dublin, 2 October 2013

Communications Minister, Pat Rabbitte today urged people who have not yet become familiar with the internet to take advantage of one of more than 500 courses being offered by community organisations nationwide which are supported by the Department’s Benefit 4 scheme. He urged people to check out the courses on offer in their own area by viewing the interactive map now available on the Department’s website which shows the contact details of local course organisers in every county.

The Minister was speaking at the presentation of Google Silver Surfer Awards today, where he highlighted his Department’s BenefIT training programme This latest BenefIT scheme - BenefIT 4 - is the fourth such scheme of this type funded by the Department of Communications since 2008. Between them the 3 previous schemes have provided training to approximately 100,000 people.

The Minister said “Training under the BenefIT programme is effective and it’s highly regarded too. We know that from the feedback provided by the trainees, which is almost universally positive. The cost is nominal, sometimes it’s free. You can learn the skills relevant to you. I am delighted to reveal that there is now a new round of training underway across the country. Over a thousand people have been trained over the past few weeks. I hope many people will be inspired by today’s silver surfers to seek out similar skills online.

“Furthermore, to help make it as easy as possible to find a BenefIT training course, my Department has produce an online map of training locations. It went live last week and can be accessed by anyone at www.eInclusion.ie

Speaking about today’s awards, the Minister said “These awards are important – because they focus on what can be achieved by anyone online. It’s not about computers, or technology – it’s about what this technology can do for you. Our Silver surfers have set a fine example by demonstrating in their own lives some of the ways we can benefit by embracing the opportunities available to us all online.

“When you think about it, for every person not online (“non-liners”) there are 4 who have the skills. Many of those people would be only too happy to show a non-liner how to do things useful to them. I urge anyone who can help someone in those ways to do so.

“Today’s awards highlight inspiring stories of ordinary people, many who left school early and are now an example to all of us on what we, like them, can achieve through the internet,” the Minister concluded.

* New online map available at - http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Knowledge+Society/BenefIT/Benefit+4+Training+Locations.html

Ends

Notes to editors

This latest BenefIT scheme - BenefIT 4 - is the fourth such scheme of this type funded by the Department of Communications since 2008. Between them the 3 previous schemes have provided training to approximately 100,000 people.

At least one in five adults in Ireland has never used the internet. The BenefIT schemes aim to reduce this by offering, through community and voluntary organisations, practical training in basic digital skills. The BenefIT schemes have been delivering very positive impacts for thousands of people.

The Department of Communications will is providing funding of up to €1.4 million under the current BenefIT 4 scheme which will train about 24,000 people.

Under the scheme thousands of people will have the opportunity to learn the skills they need to use the internet and to access all of the opportunities it presents.

· When fully rolled out training will be available in about 700 locations (501 at present). This is a partnership approach involving over 200 organisations. In the last Benefit Programme almost 64% of those trained were aged over 55, 2,707 were unemployed, 1,845 had a disability. The trainees were extremely satisfied with the training – 99.4% said they would recommend the course. 76% rated the trainer as “excellent”, 22% rated trainer as “very good”. The scheme made a positive impact with 8 out of 10 trainees saying they were now more likely to use a computer. Over 30% - 10,405 people - said that as a result of doing the course they were likely to buy a computer, laptop, tablet or similar device soon.

The training focuses on the digital skills people need - like how to use eMail, how to do an internet search, how to use services like Skype, conduct simple on-line transactions like book a ticket, pay a bill, reserve a book, as well as optional training relating to digital photographs, banking on-line, safety and security online, use social networking, use of Apps, or using the internet to assist with your own areas of interest.