§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to maximise the education of older people in Northern Ireland in the use of information technology. [137802]
§ Jane KennedyThe Department for Employment and Learning supports adult learners to develop IT skills through a range of programme and policy initiatives, These include the New Deal for 25 + for long-term unemployed people, which offers participants a range of appropriate training courses. Clients who are eligible for the Training Grant of New Deal 50 plus can access up to £1,500 over a two-year period for in-work training which can include IT skills. In the further education (FE) sector enrolments on information and communications technology (ICT) courses attract an enhanced level of financial support. Some 75 per cent. of current enrolments comprise students aged 25 or over, Learndirect plays a major role in the delivery of ICT programmes. 34 community-based learning venues throughout Northern Ireland offer all adults flexible access to a range of IT programmes at minimal cost to disadvantaged learners, including those over the age of retirement. Recent modifications to the learndirect learner funding model have been introduced to attract older learners on low income.