Press Release:
Major Community Effort Launched To Drive Digital Switchover
Tuesday, 10 January 2012: The Wheel and Irish Rural Link today welcomed the establishment of a new programme to assist people to make the switchover from an analogue to a digital television service. The programme aims to ensure that those who are least likely to make the switchover to a digital television service will be enabled to do so before the switching off of the analogue signal in October 2012. These include people who are older, have less formal education, live in rural areas, are disadvantaged or isolated.
Speaking at the first meeting of a new group to advise on the implementation of the programme, Deirdre Garvey, the Chief Executive of The Wheel, said “The Wheel is delighted to be involved in the programme. We will involve community and voluntary organisations in every area of the country in reaching out to the people who otherwise would not make the switch to a digital television service. We welcome the high priority being given to this project by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and his Department and we look forward to working with them to ensure that nobody is left behind”.
Séamus Boland of Irish Rural Link continued: “We will harness the goodwill, energy and ‘can do’ spirit of people involved in organisations that already work with and provide essential services to the target group, many of whom are isolated. It’s about caring for our neighbours, we will assist people at a local level in ensuring that nobody in their community gets left behind in the switchover”.
The Wheel and Irish Rural Link will advertise the programme and send information to the thousands of organisations that are affiliated to The Wheel and Irish Rural Link on how they can get involved.
ENDS
For further information, contact:
Dónall Geoghegan, The Wheel, at 01-454-8727 or 087-222-5691
Maria Pettit, Irish Rural Link, at 090-648-2744 or 086-329-4323
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Community Outreach Digital Switchover Programme is managed and coordinated by The Wheel in conjunction with Irish Rural Link, with funding from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The aim of the Programme is that those who are least likely to make the switchover to a digital television service will be enabled to do so before the switching off of the analogue signal in October 2012. This target group are likely to:
- be older
- have less formal education
- be farmers or live in rural areas
- be disadvantaged, e.g. have a disability, live alone
- have few social networks.
The Wheel and Irish Rural Link will work with community and voluntary organisations in every area of the country to reach this target group so that they are aware of the importance of making the switchover and the options available to them to make a successful switchover, and support them in making the decision. Organisations will promote the switchover at special events, coordinated at a county level.
About The Wheel
The Wheel is a national representative and support body for community, voluntary and charity organisations. We promote both our members’ and the wider sector’s interests. We also provide a wide range of information and support services, advice and training to individuals and organisations involved in community and voluntary activity.
Our vision is of an Ireland with a vibrant and dynamic community and voluntary sector, as united as it is diverse, operating at the centre of Irish life and decision making as a necessary part of a healthy democracy. Our mission is to strengthen the community and voluntary sector, focusing on organisations that seek to create a better world. See www.wheel.ie.
About Irish Rural Link
Irish Rural Link (IRL),formed in 1991, is a national network of organisations and individuals campaigning for sustainable rural development in Ireland and Europe. IRL, a non-profit organisation now directly represents nearly 500 community groups with a combined membership of 25,000. A member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership, the network provides a structure through which rural groups and individuals, representing disadvantaged rural communities, can articulate their common needs and priorities, share their experiences and present their case to policy-makers at local, national and European Level.
