2014-04-22 - Socio Economic Review 2014 - Full text and cover - FINAL

integration and personal development. Those without sufficient ICT skills are
disadvantaged in the labour market and have less access to information to empower
themselves as consumers, or as citizens saving time and money in offline activities
and using online public services (European Commission, 2008: 4). Digital
competence is also one of the competencies highlighted as part of the key
competencies required for lifelong learning by the European Commission in 2006.
Factors such as disability, age and social disadvantage all have significant roles to
play in increasing digital exclusion. Apart from the impact on the individual, there
are also losses to the business community and the economy at large (McDaid &
Cullen, 2008).
In 2012 the Government published its digital strategy for delivering public services.
Covering the period 2012 to 2015, this strategy encourages greater sharing of data
between Government public bodies, wider adoption of online payments and the
use of smartphone optimised sites and apps. It also identified a number of services
which may be particularly suitable for electronic delivery, such as the renewal of
adult passports, planning applications and objections and welfare applications.
With this increasing focus on digital communication and a move to the delivery of
services via electronic formats, Government needs to show sustained commitment
to counteract the issue of digital exclusion in particular for the more vulnerable
sectors of society. The Government in 2013 committed to getting 288,000 people
“on line” over the period to 2016. Delivering a new scheme [BenefIT 4] which targets
specific groups most likely to be non-internet users for digital skills training-–
funding of €1.4m was provided in 2013 for training 24,000 citizens at multiple
locations across Ireland (Department of Communication, Energy, Natural
Resources, 2013). Resources will continue to be required in this area if this target is
to be met. At an economic level this is essential to promote competitiveness and
effectiveness, while at a social services level it is essential to ensure digital exclusion
does not become another form of exclusion being experienced by those who are
already vulnerable.
Telecommunications
Two issues are of note in this area. Firstly, the Commission for Communications
Regulation (ComReg) has put in place a system to ensure that a basic set of
telecommunications services is available to all consumers throughout the country.
This is known as a Universal Service Obligation (USO). The services to be provided
include: meeting reasonable requests for connections at a fixed location to the public
communications network and access to publicly available telephone service; provision
of directory services and maintenance of the national directory database; public
telephone provision; specific services for disabled users; affordability of tariffs and
options for consumers to control expenditure (ComReg, 2011: 13). Eircom is the
designated Universal Service Provider (USP) and has a number of obligations regarding
6. Public Services 131