Wexford bidding to be ‘Info Age’ town

May 1997

Imagine the day when we all talk to each other by e-mail, when everyone has a modem, and when most local businesses and maybe even the local authorities have their own website on the internet.

It may all seem like science fiction, but that day may not be too far away if Wexford Corporation has its way.

For the local authority is going all out to win the Telecom Eireann ‘Information Age Town’ competition. If successful, Wexford could benefit to the tune of €15 million of new technology, making it the most techno-friendly town in the country.

According to borough accountant, Pat Collins, who is spearheading the Wexford campaign to win this competition, this is a research project for Telecom to see what would happen if an entire town had access to all modern telecommunication devices.

He said that Wexford is putting in a fivepronged submission, showing how technology could benefit the local authority, local business, educational bodies, arts and culture, and the community as a whole.

Speaking at Wexford Corporation’s monthly meeting on Monday night, Cllr Peter Roche said the day is fast approaching when every councillor will end up having a computer in their home.

He added that technology could be put to good use if user-friendly computers were installed at Corporation offices to dish out information relating to grants schemes, etc.

If used properly, this system would stop hardpressed staff from becoming tied up with the public, he said.