Donegal County Council has for many years recognised the potential of Information & Communications Technology not only for the benefit of the internal operations of the organisation but also for the wider economic and social development of the Donegal Region. In 1991 Donegal County Council in partnership with Derry City Council established ERNACT(European Regions Network for the application of Communications Technology) which has since developed into a leading European Information Society network involving12 partner local authorities located in European states.
In the period 1991 – 2005 the ERNACT network has been very successful in attracting EU funding for a wide range of ICT projects ranging from networking to various public information database applications. Current projects include ECONET and BRISE. The ECONET project funded under Interreg 111B will deliver an inter-regional web based electronic consultation tool which will be used by the general public to participate in policy making at a local national and European level.
The BRISE project (Boosting Regional Information Society Experience) project is funded under Interreg IIIC and involves 10 public authorities from across Europe. Donegal County Council is engaged in this project under three strands: Citizens and eGovernance in the Information Society, Broadband and ICT-based inward investment. Interaction with more developed central European authorities under these themes will result in knowledge transfer and improved capability to engage in the knowledge economy with its inherent benefits for the County. It is intended that project proposals in these areas for submission to future EU calls will emerge from the project as well.
In the north west region ERNACT is also playing an important role in terms of regional economic development using ICT. The BCDEN (Border Corridor Digital Economy Network) project funded by Inter-Reg and managed by ERNACT, is implementing a Digital Economy strategy for the region focusing particularly on the following areas :
- Improving ICT skills development,
- Increasing the use of ICT in everyday life for citizens.
- Increasing the level of research and innovation in new technology.
- Fostering the development of links with other regions in Europe to identify new opportunities and models for exploiting ICT.
- Attracting high-tech inward investment into the region
This project seeks to build on the earlier Digital Economy Strategy for the
region developed by ERNACT in the period 1994 – 1999 and will be an important building platform guiding the implementation of Information Society initiatives in the north west region for some years.
ERNACT also provides assistance to Donegal County Council as required on various technical projects and has contributed substantially in the period 2002 –2005 in a number of areas notably broadband development and integrated public services.
In the period 2006 –2009 the Council will continue to support ERNACT as a key strategic organisation. Project Proposals to attract EU funding in partnership with our European partners will be formulated and negotiated with EU funding agencies. In addition work on implementing the Digital Economy network in the north-west region will continue in the period.