COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 10, 2023
QUESTION NO. 7
QUESTION: Councillor L.Guéret
To ask the Manager what plans are in place to improve the digital skills of our ageing population?
REPLY:
The Council recognises that digitalisation can be a challenge for older people. Increasingly members of the public are required to access information, supports, services, and entitlements through on- line portals and websites. Our aim is to support the provision of basic digital skills training to ensure that Older Persons are not at risk from being excluded from our increasingly digitalised society through a variety initiatives/programmes outlined below:
South Dublin Age Friendly County Strategy 2020-2024
The South Dublin Older People's Council identified ‘Communication and Technology’ as a key action to address in their 2023/2024 work programme and have approached volunteer agencies to partner on an information technology project assisting older people with online form submissions. Intergenerational projects are also included as an action for 2024. The Older People's Council have recently engaged in the consultation process with our Housing Department for the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme on-line application portal which will go live in July 2023.
South Dublin Libraries
Our Library network provides a community hub where users can access online resources, take digital training courses, learn how to use new technologies and creative learning tools, or access information about government services. Our library staff are trained in the use of new technologies, and to help the public use them including:
- Basic information technology literacy classes
- Age Action sessions targeting Older Adults in the community
- Staff led 1-1 sessions supporting older people accessing online services on their own devices
- Information Technology classes delivered by Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB) targeting older adults in the vicinity of Clondalkin Village, Tallaght, and North Clondalkin Libraries
- All these activities will recommence in September for the 2023/2024 programme.
Age Friendly Healthy Homes Programme
- Provided ACORN Tablets to vulnerable people in the community as identified by the local co-ordinator.
- The library services also have these ACORN tablets available to loan out (with / without WIFI connect ability options) in libraries across the county.
- The PanPan Smartwatch is designed to set peace of mind for Older persons and their families. It works with a monitoring platform for emergency reaction for family members to be informed. It has an intuitive user interaction with a single button for alerts.
New Housing Customer Centre
- Dedicated frontline staff who will act as digital champions and be available to show older customers how to operate on-line self-service processes for applying for age friendly housing, maintenance and repairs, rent account and housing grants