The Limerick City Community ICT Steering Group Background Information

The Limerick City Community ICT Steering Group which was formed in 2001 is a network consisting of PAUL Partnership, the City of Limerick Vocational Educational Committee (CLVEC), and representatives from five community centres in socially and economically disadvantaged areas in Limerick City. The Group was formed in order ‘to promote and support collaborative and innovative approaches to the use of ICTs in communities ‘at risk’ of digital exclusion in Limerick City’. Limerick Employment Pact (LEP) also recognised the need to address what they saw as the growing ‘digital divide’ and the exclusion of disadvantaged communities in Limerick City from the information society. As little was known about the exact nature and extent of this form of exclusion locally, the Limerick City Community ICT Steering Group and the LEP commissioned Dr. Pat Bogue of Broadmore Research to undertake research that sought to identify ICT needs in disadvantaged communities within Limerick City and which would propose practical and innovative solutions that might be adopted by the Steering Group and other key stakeholders. This document presents a summary of the Research Report by Dr. Pat Bogue and will be launched by the ICT Steering group on the 4th April, 2008 in the Absolute Hotel.

UpComing Project Activities

The coming months Look like being very busy ones for 'eInclusion' or 'digital inclusion' in Limerick City. Among the planned activities of the 'building digital communties project' are

1. The launch of a research report on Identyfing ICT Needs in disdavantaged communities in Limerick City on April 4th in the Absolut Hotel
2. The commencement of a wide consultation with all stakeholders in order to develop a Community ICT Strategy
3. Breakfast Briefings - Key short and sharp inputs by invited contributers focusing on the potential importance of the new technologies as enablers of true inclusion (Dates, Venues and 'Lecturers' to be announced soon)

In addition the process of planning for a number of training inputs to key identified community personel has begun. More to follow from Elaine.

Building Digital Communities

The aim of this initaitive is to tackle digital exclusion by building the capacity of ‘learners and communities at risk’ to use technology in effective and relevant ways. This initiative recognises that capacity building needs to be deep and wide in order to be effective. Training/capacity development will therefore be targeted at needs identified by community groups and leaders through three training and development strands.

1. Community leader Capacity Development: Training/development activities targeted at those in leadership roles in community settings. This ICT capacity development work will culminate in the development of an ICT Strategy* for the community sector in Limerick City.
2. Frontline network administration and hardware maintenance training: This training will be provided to identified community workers and will develop their capacity to effectively maintain and manage community ICT resources and networks.
3. Content development training: Training provided to identified personal to enable them to develop a collaborative community website.