Finance Minister John O'Dowd has emphasised the importance of breaking down barriers to digital services and providing targeted support for those who have historically faced digital exclusion.

The Minister's comments came during a visit to a digital training session held at Drumellan Community Centre in Craigavon, as part of Get Online Week.

The training sessions are delivered by Supporting Communities in partnership with the Department of Finance's Go ON NI programme. They primarily focus on providing digital skills to individuals and community groups, specifically targeting older people and those in rural communities. Stressing the benefits of digital literacy, Minister O'Dowd said: "Having digital skills and the confidence to access digital services is important socially but also important financially. It opens doors for people to save time and money, allowing them to use a whole range of products they would not otherwise be able to access, and avail of some services at a reduced rate."

The Minister was pleased to see the impact of the programme, noting that the Department has already helped over 1,400 people facing digital exclusion in the current financial year. During the session, local residents were teamed up with digital champions to receive tailored support, helping them access online services, stay connected, and build their digital confidence.

Mr O'Dowd concluded that while these training sessions are ongoing throughout the year, Get Online Week offers a valuable opportunity to promote "equal access to digital opportunities for all".