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‘Social Implications of Internet Development in Ireland’ Address to the Irish Internet Association

‘Social Implications of Internet Development in Ireland’ Address to the Irish Internet Association 7th July, 1999 Nualan O’Brien WRC Social & Economic Consultants. Introduction. WRC Social & Economic Consultants Context of this report. Social Implications of Internet Development.

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‘Social Implications of Internet Development in Ireland’ Address to the Irish Internet Association

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  1. ‘Social Implications of Internet Development in Ireland’ • Address to the Irish Internet Association • 7th July, 1999 • Nualan O’Brien • WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  2. Introduction • WRC Social & Economic Consultants • Context of this report WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  3. Social Implications of Internet Development • Does the information society pose an Opportunity or Threat? • Positive and Negative aspects of ICTs (Information • and Communication Technologies) WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  4. Positive Benefits • The new ICT’s have the: • potential to overcome barriers to employment faced by those with: • physical disabilities, people living in isolated areas or women working in the home WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  5. Negative Aspects • In reality, • the expansion of ICTs results in greater income disparity, exacerbating those who are already disadvantaged WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  6. Internet Use in Ireland • Report of the Information Society Commission, 1998 • ‘What the Public is saying?’ • Early Adopters V Late Adopters WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  7. Late Adopters of ICTs in Ireland • Working class • Living outside of Leicester • Female • Age: 35+ • Working at home, not in mainstream employment WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  8. Early Adopters of ICTs in Ireland • ABC1 (Upper, middle, lower middle class) • Living in Leinster • Male • Age: 15-34 • In mainstream employment WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  9. The EMPLOYMENT Initiative • EMPLOYMENT aims to promote: • access to the labour market, • equality of opportunity, • and social solidarity WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  10. The EMPLOYMENT Initiative • 1995 -1999 • It is funded by the European Social Fund, and funds pilot projects which run over two year periods. WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  11. 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 WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  12. EMPLOYMENT ICT Strategy • Aim: to ensure that these projects which cater for the socially excluded are not excluded themselves from the new technologies WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  13. 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. WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  14. Projects using ICTs • Date Project • Target group: Children with disabilities • Aim: Broaden access • Provides each child with a PC & training WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  15. Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin • Project aim: disabilities advice on Assistive technologies locally. • Officers all have disabilities WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  16. 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 WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  17. 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 WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  18. Clann Lir, Galway • Aim: To teach disadvantaged youth in rural areas how to make CD-ROMS through Irish WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  19. 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. WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  20. Summary • The benefits of the Internet are not equitably distributed in Ireland • Civic, social & political benefits • of the Internet should be available to all WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  21. Recommendations • More programmes like Schools IT2000 need to be introduced, and made available to the general public WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  22. 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. WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  23. 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. WRC Social & Economic Consultants

  24. 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:wrc@iol.ie • Tel: 872 3100 WRC Social & Economic Consultants

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