Bishop Urges an Even Spread

The Clare Champion, Friday, January 9th, 1998

The implementation of the £15 million ‘Technology Town’ package in Ennis represents an enormous challenge for everyone involved. That’s according to Bishop Willie Walsh, who has urged Telecom Éireann chiefs to ensure that the benefits of the information age will be available to all sections of the community.

“It would be a terrible tragedy by any standards if the benefits were simply to flow to a small number of those people who are already economically well off while leaving behind the majority and in particular those who are already economically and socially deprived.”. Bishop Walsh made his comments at 12 noon Mass last Sunday in Ennis Cathedral. He pointed out that everyone in the town should be given the opportunity to have a meaningful role in developing Ennis as Ireland’s first Information Age Town.

“I believe it is appropriate to devote some of the resources involved to examine ways and means to involve those most likely to be left behind. I am thinking in particular of the long term unemployed. I am thinking of the children who are less likely to be well motivated in their homes”, Bishop Walsh said.

He also said schools have a huge part to play in the new initiative. “This is a great Christian challenge for our schools to try in a special way to reach those young people who get little support at home to benefit from these new opportunities. There is a great Christian challenge for all who are involved to reach out to adults who need special help to benefit from these opportunities”.

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