Hamilton encourages Northern Ireland to go online

Finance Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has encouraged citizens to go online.

The Minister is pictured with Nuala McNight at a Get Online Week event in Portaferry Library

The Minister was speaking during UK Get Online Week at an event in Portaferry Library.

It was one of a series of events organised as part of the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Go ON NI campaign, which aims to inspire people to get online and gain some basic digital skills.

Simon Hamilton said, “I am delighted to continue to support the Go ON NI programme and this latest activity, it is providing a real boost in terms of tackling digital exclusion.

“Over the last three years, the Go ON NI team has made a real difference in communities across Northern Ireland. Through a combination of local partners, digital champions and providing internet awareness sessions, online usage here has increased by over 14% in the last three years to 80% of adults.”

The Minister continued, “The internet is an important channel of communication and source of information, and many of us take for granted everyday tasks that we perform online.

“Citizens here in Portaferry Library today were learning how to use an email account, send emails, bank online, access government services through the NI Direct website, shop online and much more.

“We want to get as many people as possible online and this initiative is a really effective way of engaging and encouraging those who may feel less comfortable using the internet,” he added.

LibrariesNI, RNIB, and many community centres across the province have been providing a range of targeted support, helping people get up to speed on social media, multimedia, employability and careers services.

Information on the Go ON NI campaign, including events can be found at: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/go-on.

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=46119

Posted by Newry Times News on Oct 31 2014. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry