Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte with one of the participants of the BenefIT 3 initiative, Cecilia Bruen from Artane in Dublin
The BenefIT3 training scheme that provides basic digital skills for members of the public has been recently extended.
The scheme was originally due to finish at the end of this month. It will be made available to around 40,000 people through local groups in community facilities across the country.
Participants are taught how to use the web, send email, use internet telephony services like Skype and do shopping and banking online during three two-hour classes.
The Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, said: “This training is proving very popular. This is clear from the very positive feedback we are getting from the people who have availed of the training all over the country. I am very heartened to see the beneficial impact it is having on so many people.”
Announcing the scheme’s extension, he said its success was reflected in the fact that 99% of people who had completed it said they would recommend it to others. Of those who have participated to date, 36% were aged 65 or older, 24% were unemployed and more than 7% had some form of disability.
Get Ireland Online
ICS Skills was selected to provide training under the BenefIT 3 scheme, and launched the “Get Ireland Online” programme last October in more than 50 locations nationwide.
“This course has opened up a whole new world to me. I knew that world existed but did not know how to access it. I can now email, Skype my son in Australia, shop for groceries and transfer money including paying bills online. I also read the newspapers online and listen to the daily news at a time convenient to me. This experience has given me a whole new lease of life and boosted my confidence no end. I am no longer afraid of my laptop and now spend many hours surfing the net.”
- Course participant Claire Vaughan describes how life has changed as the digital world opens up to her
Learn more
To find out more about the courses, go to GetIrelandOnline.ie, contact ICS skills on 01 7753008 or email mtraining@ics.ie
Find out your nearest location of the courses
