AQW 48983/11-16
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 21/09/2015
Answered On Date: 06/10/2015
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assistance on online forms her Department offers to farmers who do not have access to, or are unfamiliar with, the internet.
Answer:
My Department has a range of support measures in place to help farmers who either don’t have access to or are unfamiliar with the internet. Each DARD Direct office has a computer terminal in the reception area with free internet access which farmers can use. DARD Direct staff will provide help and guidance to first time users who wish to use this facility. Free access to the internet is also available through Libraries NI along with free computer classes through the 'GO ON' NI. Ideally every rural dweller would have access to broadband, but I acknowledge this is not yet the case. The situation has greatly improved following major investment by my Department of £5m. This investment has provided potential access to 14,000 rural dwellers, and follows a previous investment of £2.5m which lead to 17,000 rural dwellers getting connected. CAFRE offer tailored training packages for farmers on how to sign up and use DARD online services. They also offer a telephone helpline for those requiring assistance in understanding the process for completing the online application. I have asked officials to consider how we can provide further support to those famers having difficulty, or maybe just need a little encouragement, so that they can also enjoy the significant benefits that going online provides. This includes providing out of hours telephone support at critical times and offering tools such as web chat. My Department is focused on developing online forms and services that are as simple as possible so that customers who can use them prefer to do so.
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