Dublin Employment Pact
Brief to Consultants
Terms of referencefor the study:
Encouraging Digital Inclusion in Dublin
1. Introduction
The Dublin Employment Pact (DEP) was established to tackle labour market inequalities in Dublin. Nearly 100 organisations - representing local authorities, statutory and development agencies, social partners and community groups - are involved in the various working groups and projects of the DEP. The four strategic areas and working groups are: social and economic policy, education and employment, local enterprise and social economy, and labour market policy. The DEP remit covers the Dublin Region (Dublin City plus Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire). The DEP works through partnerships internally and externally to develop initiatives to achieve its goals.
The Dublin Employment Pact, in partnership with the Dublin Regional Authority, the Dublin City Development Board and the Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Baords, wishes to commission a strategic analysis of the engagement of Dublin residents and communities with ICTs (information and communication technologies). This study will include a literature review, a population survey, a qualitative investigation, and a high-level analysis that will focus in particular on the situation of excluded groups and communities. The report will provide the most extensive analysis to date of the use of ICTs in Dublin and will recommend strategies for encouraging digital inclusion in Dublin. It will be a useful resource for communities in Dublin, especially disadvantaged communities, and policy makers at local, regional and national levels.
This brief will provide interested consultants with relevant background information and describe the aim of the study, the programme of work involved, the outputs required, and other aspects necessary to prepare a tender offer.
2. Background
Addressing the digital divide and encouraging digital inclusion are key policy priorities at local, national and EU levels.
The Government Action Plan on the information society states that new technologies such as the Internet are transforming Irish society. ICTs allow new ways of interacting that challenge the boundaries of what has been possible traditionally and also offer new opportunities to address traditional problems of disadvantage and exclusion. The Action Plan further states: "However it is also clear that public policy interventions are needed to avoid the danger of exacerbating existing inequalities, and to prevent the emergence of what has become known internationally as a digital divide" (Department of the Taoiseach, 2002). This thinking is reflected in the core EU policy eEurope 2005 - aimed at creating new jobs, boosting productivity, modernising public services, and giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the global information society (European Commission, 2002).
The City of Dublin recently published a strategy that sees Dublin in 2012 as a city that harnesses the power of communications technology to connect and inform people, create opportunities and tackle social exclusion. Disadvantaged residents and communities in Dublin will need to participate fully in the information society. Core skills in ICTs and digital media will need to be enhanced through training and education, schools and homes will need to be networked to ensure equal access to information through the Internet, and community champions and community media centres will need to be resourced to effectively use ICTs (Dublin City Development Board, 2002). Also concerned with digital inclusion are the business groups the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, which sees addressing the digital divide as a strategic priority to make Dublin "a world-class e-city" and ICT Ireland, for whom an expanded educated and responsive skills base is a strategic priority (Dublin City Chamber of Commerce, 2001; ICT Ireland, 2001).
In June 2002 the Dublin Employment Pact organised a "Think-in on Dublin in the Knowledge Age" at the Department of the Taoiseach. At the event representatives from Government, education and research, companies, statutory agencies, local authorities, partnerships, unions and employers shared ideas on core issues, including the digital divide. Among the concerns expressed were: low levels of Internet use in Ireland; lack of digital literacy, particularly by disadvantaged groups and community organisations; the lack of broadband infrastructure in communities, particularly disadvantaged communities; the high costs of Internet access; and the low ratio of computers-to-students in schools.
The situation in Dublin is aggravated by the low level of Internet infrastructure in Ireland. The OECD measures the relative intensity of development of the Internet infrastructure in various countries using an indicator called "Internet hosts per 1,000 inhabitants." In its latest review of ICTs and the information economy, the OECD ranked Ireland well below the OECD average and below the EU average in development of Internet infrastructure. In July 2001, the US was well ahead of other countries with 270 Internet hosts per 1,000 inhabitants. The OECD average was 100, and the EU average was just over 50. Ireland had about 40, behind all other EU countries except France, Spain, Greece and Portugal (OECD, 2002). The Dublin Chamber of Commerce study highlighted the poor broadband situation in Ireland as a core reason for the weak Internet infrastructure.
To date there has been no in-depth research on digital inclusion in Ireland or in Dublin. The most recent official survey of Internet use in Ireland was commissioned in 2000 by the Information Society Commission. Their report found that the digital divide "appears no nearer to being closed with the access to and usage of information and communication technology being concentrated on the middle classes with those not working or in non-skilled jobs having low rates of access."
Encouraging Digital Inclusion in Dublin will be the first major analysis of the engagement of Dublin residents, communities and county areas with ICTs. It will focus in particular on the situation of excluded groups and communities and will recommend actions to encourage digital inclusion in Dublin. It is expected that the report will stimulate discussion, debate and action on the issues in Dublin and wider nationally. The report will also allow quality information and analysis from Ireland to contribute to discussions about digital inclusion at EU-level and internationally, in particular the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in December 2003.
3. Task description: programme of work
3.1 Aims and objectives
This study will be a definitive analysis of digital inclusion in Dublin. It will establish a benchmark measure of ICT awareness, ICT access and use, and the skills and support and resource networks needed to use ICTs effectively by Dublin residents and communities. It will highlight, where appropriate, models of good practice and gaps in provision. It will draw a profile of the situation of Dublin's most disadvantaged residents and communities regarding ICTs, particularly the Internet. The study will include a high-level analysis of digital inclusion in Dublin and recommendations for action.
The objectives of the study are to investigate the engagement of Dublin residents, communities and counties with ICTs in the following areas:
- Socio-economic profile of ICT users and non-users, particularly of the Internet
- ICT awareness
- Establish the extent and reason of current use and of potential future use
- Social resources and networks involving ICTs
- ICT skills, training and employment
- ICT access and use
- The relevance of ICTs and digital content
- Community and political participation using ICTs
- Television as an ICT tool
3.2 Research focus and questions
The exact questions to be used in the survey of Dublin residents will be discussed and agreed in advance. An indicative list is below.
3.2.1 Socio-economic profile of ICT users and non-users
The study will examine the profile of ICT users and non-users among Dublin residents, communities and counties. Areas to be considered include: gender, age, level of education, participation in the paid labour force, type of employment, participation in unwaged work (ie home duties and carers), literacy level, disability, ethnicity, family status and household income - and others found to be significant in the analysis of the data. The data will be referenced by geographical area - including the four Dublin county areas. The specific disadvantaged communities to be studied will be agreed with the DEP in advance of the survey.
3.2.2 ICT awareness
The study will determine the levels of awareness of a range of ICTs by Dublin residents, communities and counties. The ICTs to be considered include: fixed computers, portable computers, email, the Web, email discussion lists or forums, chat rooms, digital camera, DVD, mobile phone, texting, broadband, TV types (cable, digital) games consoles, and other ICTs.
3.2.3 Social resources and networks involving ICTs
The study will examine the relationship between social resources and networks and use of ICTs by Dublin residents, communities and counties. This will include ICT use by and resources among friends and family members; work colleagues and contacts; schools and school-age children; and community activities, community and voluntary organisations and other community-based resources. The purpose of this aspect of the study is to establish the social resources and networks conducive to ICT use.
3.2.4 ICT skills, training and employment
The study will determine the level of ICT skills and training experience by Dublin residents and in Dublin communities and counties and their relationship to employment. It will look at how ICT skills were acquired, ie through employment or other means; the usefulness of these skills for employment and potential future employment; and the level of support by employers for acquiring further ICT skills. Options to be explored include: the range of skills levels, from no skills to computer professional; the acquisition of ICT skills; the availability of training; barriers and restraints to acquiring new or further ICT skills; links between ICT training and employment; content issues (use for information and/or interaction), use of ICT skills by those currently employed.
3.2.5 ICT access and use, in particular the Internet
The study will determine the rate of ICT access and use - in particular the Internet - by Dublin residents, communities and counties. Options to be explored include: place of access, including home, work, library, community centre and so on; type of access, from ordinary telephone line to broadband; frequency of Internet use, from never to everyday or nearly everyday; reasons for not using the Internet, from lack of interest to lack of resources and a range of other reason; and factors that may encourage Internet use, from free lessons to cheaper telephone charges and a range of other reasons.
3.2.6 Relevance of ICTs
The study will determine which ICTs, processes, online content, and online services are currently the most relevant and useful for Dublin residents, communities and counties. Options for the most relevant uses include: work-related uses; use for school, college or university; for fun and relaxation; use for information or interaction, help for child's work at school, college or university; working from home; personal uses and so on. Specific uses to be explored for computers and the Internet could include: sending or receiving emails; study or learning; small business or entrepreneur, job searches; holiday or flight information and tickets; hobbies and personal interests; shopping (books, music, clothes); playing or downloading games; playing DVDs/movies; listening to/downloading music or MP3s; typing letters; writing stories or reports; producing newsletters and posters; organising household finances; finding national or international news; finding local or community news and information; finding health-related advice or information; booking tickets for shows or events; carrying-out online banking; taking part in forums or discussion groups; finding information from government or local authorities; applying for or renewing a passport or driving licence; checking income tax entitlements; checking social welfare entitlements.
3.2.7 Community and political participation using the Internet
The study will determine the extent to which the Internet is used for community organising, activism and political participation by Dublin residents and in Dublin communities and counties. Options to be explored include using the Internet to: exchange email with a community or local group, organise community or local activities, organise a campaign around important community issues, discuss politics with family or friends, find political information, contact a politician or elected official, vote or register an opinion on political issues, sign an online petition, find out more about an activist campaign.
Furthermore, the study should identify:
- any other key issues which arise from the data, and make specific recommendations to resolve these issues
- the socio-economic differences among different communities and county areas across the Dublin Region
- a set of benchmark measures and indicators which could be used as an effective system of monitoring and evaluating the engagement with ICTs of Dublin residents, communities and county areas
3.3 Methodology
3.3.1 Literature review - policy and research
The study will include a thorough review of relevant policy and research in Dublin and at national and EU levels, as well as wider internationally where appropriate. This review will cover all the objective areas of the study described above, including the situation of ICTs in schools and the current status of broadband provision in Dublin, particularly in relation to disadvantaged communities. Where necessary this literature review will be complemented by desk research on quantitative data and informal interviews with key informants. The literature review will provide a comprehensive picture of current quantitative and qualitative provision and consider all relevant policy documents and reports published to June 2003.
3.3.2 Survey of Dublin residents, communities and counties
The study will include a survey of a representative sample of Dublin residents, including residents in a number of disadvantaged communities, in all four Dublin county areas. A diverse range of views will be sought so it would be expected that the survey sample will represent a range of demographic groups, such as the unemployed, elderly, long-term unemployed, disabled, lone parents, ethnic minorities and newcomers to Ireland. The number of residents to be surveyed in each of these categories and the specific disadvantaged communities to be covered will be agreed through further discussion.
The minimum sample size is 1,000, which is larger than the usual sample size for Dublin by market research organisations. The larger size will ensure an adequate number of responses in specific disadvantaged communities and by specific disadvantaged groups. The survey should cover 1,000 15-minute interviews; tenderers should be aware when preparing their proposals that the budget for the survey may not allow for longer interviews.
This survey may be subcontracted from a nationally-recognised market survey company. (See point 7 of this brief regarding costs of the survey). In this case, the work involves managing all aspects of this subcontract including preparing the questionnaire, and all communications and payment arrangements with the subcontractor. The market survey company will produce raw data from the interviews which will then be analysed by a qualified analyst.
3.3.3 Qualitative study
The second part of the study is a more qualitative investigation based on in-depth interviews with members of disadvantaged groups and communities. The purpose of this investigation is to explore the above issues more fully and to enable a profile to be drawn of the situation of particular groups and communities regarding ICTs. The qualitative interviews will also explore: the specific reasons for non-use or low use of the Internet; specific incentives that may encourage Internet use; the use of computers and the Internet in schools in disadvantaged communities; creative and innovative uses of ICTs by disadvantaged groups and communities; potential uses of affordable broadband access in disadvantaged communities; and the link between functional literacy levels and ICT use. The number of interviews to be conducted should be outlined in the tender offer and will be agreed through further discussion with the successful contractor.
3.3.4 High-level analysis
This analysis will be conducted by a highly-qualified analyst or analysts with significant expertise in the area of digital inclusion. The analysis will begin with a brief rationale for conducting this study in Dublin and the links between ICT use in a large urban area and the development of all regions nationally. The analysis will then go on to analyse the results of the research in each of the areas identified above, including: socio-economic and geographic profiles and ICTs; ICT awareness; social resources and networks related to ICTs; ICT access and use; ICT skills, training and employment; relevance of ICTs; and community and political participation using ICTs.