Minister Haughey presents IT Training Certificates to students from the Community Media Further Education Project. (12th July 2010)

The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey TD today presented IT Training certificates to 25 learners from the Community Media Further Education Project. The awards ceremony took place at the Northside Civic Centre on Bunratty Road, Coolock on Dublin’s northside.
The Community Media Further Education Project is the product of a fruitful partnership between Near Media Co-op and Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education. This partnership has been providing excellent learning opportunities to the local communities for almost a decade. The learners, following completion of their course, have been given the skills and knowledge necessary to progress to a more independent lifestyle and enhance their computer and internet skills.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister Haughey said “Near Media Co-op has created many wonderful opportunities for learners in the community through its radio and TV operations. These innovations bring information and learning into homes and the heart of the local communities.” The Digital Solidarity Initiative has provided an invaluable service in offering IT training programmes to over 1,400 learners from communities in the North Dublin area. Over the last 12 months alone the initiative has trained 204 participants and demand continues with more learners enrolling for summer and autumn courses.
Minister Haughey went on to say “I commend the people here in the Community Media Further Education Project for the range of opportunities now available to enhance the IT skills of learners. In recent years there has been an increased focus on the development of lifelong learning in Ireland resulting in significant improvements in the number of adults availing of education. Lifelong Learning is crucial in enabling all our learners to engage in the pursuit of continuing education and training. IT courses such as the one successfully completed by the learners here today are a very important part of this process,” said the Minister. Minister Haughey concluded by congratulating the 25 learners on their achievements and he hoped that they found their IT course “enjoyable, interesting and productive. I believe that the experience, skills and knowledge that you all have gained in attaining your certificates will be of enormous benefit to you on your own personal road of lifelong learning.”