The Minister was speaking during an event in Ormeau Library, Belfast as part of the nationwide Get Online Day campaign.
A series of sessions called ‘Internet Made Easy’ are being held in libraries across Northern Ireland in October to offer citizens the chance to learn how to use the internet and a range of interactive services.
The Minister said: “The Delivery and Innovation Division within my Department has joined forces with the University for Industry (UFI) to run this excellent digital inclusion initiative, allowing people to step into the virtual world and discover what the internet has to offer.
“There are still many communities and individuals across Northern Ireland who feel digitally excluded. These sessions aim to help communities to overcome any barriers to technology and show residents how to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities digital technology and the Internet has to offer. For example, the new government website www.nidirect.gov.uk makes accessing government services and information easier.
"Citizens can access information all on the one site and at a time that suits them. The information is arranged under themes so they do not need to know which department is responsible for the information they are looking for and there are a number of online transactions, from researching family history to buying a TV licence.”
A UK National Digital Literacy Award was introduced as part of the learndirect National Achievement Awards, and recognises learners who have taken part in the above digital literacy programme.
Northern Ireland’s Denise Richardson won this award after being shortlisted from over 1,800 nominations nationwide. Denise attended sessions in Ballymoney library to learn how to get the most out of using the Internet to help with future learning and jobs prospects as well as personal interests. She now shops and books holidays on the Internet and is taking Word Processing exams in Loughiel Millennium Centre where she intends to progress to other courses.
Mr Wilson concluded: “Digital technology can be used to boost individuals’ employability and to transform people’s access to learning and ICT in everyday life and work, so I would encourage citizens to get involved and become part in the Get Online campaign.”
Notes to editors:
- Get Online Day 2009 is on Friday 23 October 2009 and aims to help people who are not online to be part of it and take their first steps with computers and the Internet. Events will be running from Monday 19 to Saturday 31 October. For further information log on to www.getonlineday.com.
- DID provides a range of specialist business services to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). Services include:-Government policy strategic programmes business consultancy ICT shared services
- DID is an amalgamation of the former e-Government Unit, Business Development Service and Public Service Improvement Unit. For more information visit www.dpfni.gov.uk
- Operated by UFI Ltd, Learndirect is a leading online learning provider in the UK. Over 8500 people log on and learn every day. To recognise their achievements, the learndirect Achievements Awards now in its third year. Nominations closed in March and 1,815 people were nominated for the wards nationwide. All regional winners were invited to the national final in London. For further information visit: www.learndirect.co.uk/awards.
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