Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how he can facilitate the use by older persons of communications technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51573/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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One in five adults in Ireland has never used the Internet. Many if not most of these are older people. That is why older people are a key focus in the Government's national digital strategy, which I launched earlier this year. I awarded grants in July under my Department's benefit programme to 17 community and voluntary organisations to deliver basic digital skills training to people who have never used the Internet or are seeking to build on the skills they have. The benefit programme involves a network of approximately 200 stakeholders providing training in more than 580 locations nationwide. The training covers the use of different types of communications technology, particularly Internet-related technologies such as computers and smartphones. It includes training on the topics that are most likely to be of relevance and use to people, such as sending and receiving e-mails, conducting simple online transactions and using Government services online.

Some €1.4 million has been allocated to the benefit programme in 2013. More than 83,000 people have received training under the programme since it began, with approximately 7,000 completing training so far in 2013. Approximately 60% of the people undertaking training under the latest phase of the benefit programme are over 55 years of age and one third of them are over the age of 65. Therefore, the programme is making a very positive impact on older people. The feedback received from trainees has also been positive, with 99% of them saying they would recommend the course. The latest phase of the benefit programme, which I launched in July, builds on the successes and lessons of previous phases. In response to requests from trainees, and older people in particular, the number of training hours has been increased from six to eight. The range of topics covered by the course has also been extended.

In addition to the programmes funded by my Department, a number of other initiatives are in operation to help older people to use digital technologies. Some of them are mentioned in the national digital strategy, including Google's Get Your Folks Online and Silver Surfer Towns initiatives and UPC's Internet Buttons initiative. As part of the development of the national digital strategy, my Department commissioned a number of audiovisual case studies, some of which focus on the relevance and value of digital engagement for older people, such as saving money and being better connected to friends and family. The national digital strategy sets an ambitious target to get 280,000 more people online by the end of 2016. Many of these will be older people. The strategy envisages a co-operative approach between the Government, industry and community and voluntary groups that are active in assisting elderly people. Those involved in the strategy are working with Ireland's digital champion, David Puttnam. It entails the continued roll-out of training and an intensified focus on awareness raising and motivation. The aim is to ensure more older people are shown the many great and simple things they can do with digital technologies so that they will want to engage with them.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I tabled this question in the context of the abolition of the telephone allowance. We have spoken in this House on a number of occasions about the development of a two-tier society when it comes to broadband. People in their 60s and early 70s have engaged with the digital era technologies to some extent. Those in the next oldest age group are increasingly isolated and vulnerable, however, as society continues to move towards Internet banking, online payment of bills, etc. People have been asked for generations to use cash less frequently and to stop keeping it in the house. I am talking about elderly people who have not engaged properly with technological advances. Is there a coherent plan to target those people in any of the Department's various strategies? I appreciate that the cohort of people I am talking about - elderly people, in particular - was mentioned in the strategy that was launched last July.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I agree with Deputy Moynihan that we have to be very careful to ensure a new digital divide does not develop in this country. Many older people did not have access to this technology when they were being educated or during their working lives. The Deputy is right to suggest that they can suddenly become isolated. The merit of the benefit programme is that it assists such people. The programme has achieved remarkable success even though the amount of money committed to it is relatively small. Its partnership with Age Action, for example, has been exceptionally successful. I have presented awards sponsored by Age Action, sometimes in partnership with a big company such as Google, to people in their 80s who cannot believe the world that has been opened up to them as a result of being able to Skype their grandchildren in Australia, perform basic transactions online or access Government services on the Internet. I believe it is a very valuable programme.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is. I know people in their 80s who have received awards at these ceremonies. We have to admit that the percentage of their peers in this age group who are engaging with technology and with the digital age is quite small. Older people who are active in their communities, retirement groups and day care centres are engaging with society, at least. We all know people who do not engage, however, perhaps because they have limited resources in terms of family members looking after them. These people, who are found in urban and rural parishes, are becoming further isolated. Some of them are completely isolated.

There should be a targeted and proactive programme to put people at ease. Everything can be checked online nowadays but many vulnerable people who need information have no idea where to go to find it because they do not engage in that way with society.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The figures show that 23% of the population have never accessed the Internet. The programme to which I referred has trained some 83,000 people in basic digital literacy skills. In respect of the particular cohort to which the Deputy refers, especially those who may be living in remote locations, the whole point of the benefit programme is that it sponsors these programmes in partnership with community and voluntary organisations. In those circumstances, the first step is that some kind of local organising is required, whether by the GAA or by community or residents' organisations. Those local groups are entitled to access funding and to provide courses such as those that are in place in 580 different locations.