To ask the Minister for the Economy what actions her Department is taking to promote digital inclusion in Northern Ireland.

I fully appreciate the importance of access to good broadband services, particularly in the current circumstances.

As you are aware, my Department has developed Project Stratum which will utilise funding of £165m to deliver gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure to more than 76,000 premises across Northern Ireland.

Following a robust and competitive procurement process, the contract for Project Stratum has now been awarded and deployment activities are underway. The project team will be engaging with the successful bidder, Fibrus Networks, to ensure that citizens and businesses can access further information regarding deployment plans and project implementation updates. Departmental officials have engaged with local council representatives to ensure that key aspects of the project are communicated clearly and that all questions relating to deployment are addressed in a transparent manner.

My Department also produced a detailed ICT-Digital foresight report in 2016, which has helped shape DfE policy for the sector, and the outworking of which remains ongoing, including in relation to skills. The Matrix Panel, supported by my Department, is in the process of conducting foresight studies, specifically looking at future opportunities in the key areas of Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security. Work is also progressing on developing an AI Centre of excellence to help raise awareness and use of technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing, and also in delivering against the need to raise awareness and develop skills in cyber security.

I can also advise that Invest NI has a team of 5 ICT advisors operating across Northern Ireland, providing advice to their customers on a range of ICT solutions used within businesses. This is a well-established service, providing 1:1 advice to over 500 businesses per year and can also offer financial support to eligible businesses. The team has also helped to develop online video and reading material available through www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/IT to help small businesses to move online and grow.

InvestNI has also completed the 1st call of the Digital Selling Capability Grant (DSCG), aimed at moving more NI retail/wholesale businesses online. The scheme has offered funding to over 100 businesses to engage professional expertise to help them plan and/or improve their online selling presence, including upskilling their staff on online marketing/e-commerce techniques.

It is also important to note that, following the cessation of on-site training and learning due to Covid-19 in March 2020, Further Education (FE) colleges moved quickly to adapt their provision to meet the needs of their learners with over three-quarters of learners able to access provision on-line, thereby enabling students and staff to work remotely from home during this period of uncertainty and complete learners’ vocational qualifications. Additional funding of over £3.1 million was allocated to colleges for additional IT equipment, peripherals and licences to allow continued access from home for both college staff and students.

My Department’s Essential Skills Strategy aims to provide opportunities for adults to update their essential skills, including ICT provision. Essential Skills qualifications in Information and Communication Technology at Level 1 and Level 2 are available free of charge to all learners.

Courses are delivered by FE colleges, private training providers and community organisations.

You may also wish to explore the work underway by the Digital Inclusion Unit established within the Department of Finance and the action taken within the Department for Communities to promote digital inclusion in the delivery of its services.