Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he plans to combat the digital divide; if he is satisfied that persons who wish to learn to use the Internet across the broad sections of society have an opportunity to learn; the numbers of e-Inclusion grants that have been approved; the numbers of training places that have been taken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16641/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he proposes to deal with the digital divide; the measures that he has put in place so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.

The Department, and others, have been working, and continue to work on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement. One issue has been access to the technology and infrastructure, which is being addressed both by the market and, in the case of areas where broadband provision remains an issue, through the National Broadband Scheme. The issue of skills is being addressed in several ways. Training opportunities are being provided by community, voluntary and not for profit organisations across the country. The Department's BenefIT e-Inclusion grant schemes are assisting many of these initiatives.

Under the BenefIT schemes, 89 grants were awarded in 2008 and 2009 – amounting to approximately €2.58 million. A review of the outputs from the BenefIT 1 scheme is underway. It will, inter alia, determine the number of people trained under the scheme, and will be published on the Department's website when completed later this year. Approximately 7,400 training places are available under the BenefIT 2 scheme this year. Training throughout 2010 is taking place in venues across the country. Details of the training, the locations and contact information for the training providers are available on the Department's website at www.eInclusion.ie

There are, of course, other training opportunities available from a variety of sources - including opportunities in libraries and in night classes throughout the country, and from a range of private sector training providers. In addition, there is the "Log on, Learn" initiative - a collaborative program between Intel, Microsoft, An Post and the Department of Education and Science. The programme is designed to match participating transition-year students with older people on a one-to-one basis, to share skills and knowledge with each other. I understand that over 3,000 people have been trained on this programme.

Government will continue to examine approaches to promote increased digital participation and digital skills in the context of strategies to advance the Knowledge Society. Future strategies will, inter alia, have regard to the expertise that has been built up by community and voluntary organisations throughout the country which have been delivering training with the assistance of grant aid from the Department and how such organisations and others might play a role in future efforts to promote increased digital engagement.