Some of the most disadvantaged areas in Dublin's inner city will benefit from an innovative project designed to overcome a growing "digital divide".
Residents of nine Dublin City Council flat complexes will be given access to the latest computer equipment and high speed internet at special digital centres.
It is hoped the Digital Community Project will provide greater access for residents to training and employment in computer-related fields. Courses will be developed for young people who drop out of school, youth clubs, women's groups and those involved in drug rehabilitation.
The project is targeted at areas where children's access to computers outside school time is severely limited. It is hoped it will go some way to overcome a growing "digital divide" between rich and poor.
Each digital centre will be equipped with 20 personal computers, a printer, a digital camera and a digital scanner. These will be supplied by Hewlett Packard. Dublin City Council will supply a building within each of the nine flat complexes to house the equipment and the Digital Hub will supply technical support and educational software for the centres.
Eircom will connect the centres to high speed internet lines for 12 months and the National Centre for Technology in Education will offer training for project co-ordinators.
The community groups that will take part include: Bridgefoot Residents' Association; St. Theresa's Gardens Environment and Employment Group; Fatima Mansions Children and Adult Group; Iveagh Trust Residents' Association; Charlemont Residents' Association; Whitefriar Community Education and Development Centre, O'Devaney Gardens Development Centre; Michael Mallen Residents' Association; and the Community Development Group in Dolphin House.
