An inner city community service in Dublin has set up 10 newsgroups (online discussion and message areas) on its Web site (at http://www.iol.ie/ dicp/ iccn.html). The Inner City Computer Network will host the newsgroups, which will focus on inner city issues in Dublin.
The newsgroups are subdivided into topics such as employment openings in the inner city to community news, a small ads board and training courses. "These newsgroups are available to everyone though obviously they will be most relevant to organisations with an inner city interest," says one of the organisers, Kate Ennals. They have also approached employers to use the newsgroups to advertise vacancies or locate training courses within the city.
The project is part of the Inner City Employment Service (ICES) co ordinated by the Dublin Inner City Partnership. The service can be used by unemployed local people and employers.