AQW 16902/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 17/10/2024
Answered On Date: 25/10/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance (i) how he is addressing digital exclusion among older people, ensuring they are not left behind as services become more reliant on digital platforms; and (ii) for his assessment of the provision of non-digital alternatives.
Answer:
DIGITAL INCLUSION My Department has a small Digital Inclusion Unit to promote online services and to give people the skills, confidence, safety, motivation and trust to engage with the online world. The aim is to promote a digitally inclusive society and to increase the use of online channels to access our public services through a range of projects by working in close partnership with several public and private organisations to help digitally excluded people get online. The Digital Inclusion team’s current Go ON NI programme enables the public to use Government services online and it continues to grow by targeting events and promotional activities at the harder to reach digitally excluded sections of the population here. These key groups include: •those aged over 50 •rural communities •people with physical or mental impairment •socio-economic disadvantaged communities •long-term unemployed The Go ON NI programme ensures older communities are not excluded from accessing information and services by working with various organisations to recruit digital champions, provide tuition, and detail the help that is available to assist these communities in accessing online services. October is Positive Ageing Month, a month-long festival of events and activities for older people, celebrating and promoting the well-being, contributions and experience of older people. During this month the Go ON NI Programme have been attending events promoting this programme and offering free digital skills sessions specifically for older people, in local libraries, community centres and hubs. The Go ON NI programme runs all year round for people wanting to improve their digital skills. Between April and September this year, the Go ON NI programme has delivered 448 sessions to 1,810 people.
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