‘social implications of internet development in ireland’ address to the irish internet...

‘Social Implications of Internet Development in Ireland’

Address to the Irish Internet Association

7th July, 1999

Nualan O’Brien

WRC Social & Economic Consultants


Introduction


Context of this report


Social Implications of Internet Development

Does the information society pose an Opportunity or Threat?

Positive and Negative aspects of ICTs (Information

and Communication Technologies)


Positive Benefits

The new ICT’s have the:

potential potential to overcome barriers to employment faced by those with:

physical disabilities, people living in isolated areas or women working in the home


Negative Aspects

In realityreality,

the expansion of ICTs results in greater income disparity, exacerbating those who are already disadvantaged


Internet Use in Ireland

Report of the Information Society Commission, 1998

‘What the Public is saying?’

Early Adopters V Late Adopters


Late Adopters of ICTs in Ireland

Working class

Living outside of Leicester

Female

Age: 35+

Working at home, not in mainstream employment


Early Adopters of ICTs in Ireland

ABC1 (Upper, middle, lower middle class)

Living in Leinster

Male

Age: 15-34

In mainstream employment


The EMPLOYMENT Initiative

EMPLOYMENT aims to promote:

access to the labour market,

equality of opportunity,

and social solidarity


The EMPLOYMENT Initiative

1995 -1999

It is funded by the European Social Fund, and funds pilot projects which run over two year periods.


EMPLOYMENT

Has four main strands, each with its own target group:

Horizon: People with disabilities

Integra: Social and economically excluded

e.g. Long-term unemployed, Migrants

NOW: women - at work and in the home

Youthstart: poorly qualified young people


EMPLOYMENT ICT Strategy

Aim: to ensure that these projects which cater for the socially excluded are not excluded themselves from the new technologies


EMPLOYMENT ICT Strategy

Background: documented in ‘Getting Connected (1998)’

This presentation looks at case studies of good practice of projects using the Internet to further their social agenda.


Projects using ICTs

Date Project

Target group: Children with disabilities

Aim: Broaden access

Provides each child with a PC & training


Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin

Project aim: disabilities advice on Assistive technologies locally.

Officers all have disabilities


Gateway NOW project

Aim: To train 15 Long-term unemployed in how to run a newspaper

Plan to develop a website - put the paper online & train participants in HTML


Mol an Oige: Tipperary

Aim: to prevent early school leaving

ICTs are being used as a learning medium, fun software being used to correct learning difficulties - removes the stigma associated with learning disabilities


Clann Lir, Galway

Aim: To teach disadvantaged youth in rural areas how to make CD-ROMS through Irish


Lessons from these projects

These projects are excellent examples of how ICTs and in particular the Internet can be used to:

1. Promote social inclusion;

2. To further these projects social agenda.


Summary

The benefits of the Internet are not equitably distributed in Ireland

Civic, social & political benefits

of the Internet should be available to all


Recommendations

More programmes like Schools IT2000 need to be introduced, and made available to the general public


Recommendations

The current government policy focuses on developing a good telecommunications infrastructure, this is very important, but should not be the sole priority.

It is equally important that all have access to new ICTs to avoid creating a two tier Irish society.


Conclusion

Efforts must be made to provide all with the subsistence knowledge of ICTs in the information age.

If not, the social implications of Internet development will be divisive, not cohesive, damaging and not beneficial

to Ireland.


Further information is on the EMPLOYMENT Website:

Details on the following: the case studies, the EMPLOYMENT ICT strategy, and a list of links to relevant reports are available at:

http://www.iol.ie/EMPLOYMENT/ict/ictpol.html

Or contact: Nualan O’Brien

Email:[email protected]

Tel: 872 3100

‘social implications of internet development in ireland’ address to the irish internet...

Documents

european social fund

new icts

dublin project aim

expansion of icts results

galway aim

ictsdate project target

irish internet association7th

information society