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Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD today opened the Microsoft supported Enable Ireland National Assistive Technology Training Centre in Crumlin. The Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland and will provide a central location for helping people with disabilities to access training using Assistive Technology (AT), using a train the trainers model. The AT centre has evolved through a close partnership between Microsoft and Enable Ireland that started in 2000. Microsoft today announced it will be extending its support for Enable Ireland’s work in Assistive Technology in 2008 with a further grant of $90,000 (€60,000).
Microsoft Ireland has won the Leadership category award at the 2007 national O2 Ability Awards. The O2 Ability Awards celebrate organizations who are successfully working with people with disabilities. By winning this Leadership award Microsoft has been recognized as an organization who has an open and inclusive culture, who demonstrates a commitment to disability and who has a diversity and inclusion strategy which is inclusive of disability.
Irish students entered Microsoft's global Imagine Cup competition for the first time in 2007. In a competition that attracted entries from 100,000 students from over 100 countries around the world, two Irish teams made the finals in Seoul, South Korea and impressed the judges with their knowledge, passion, skill and teamwork.
The Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher (MAR) programme is designed to increase the number of low-cost computers available to charities and schools, while also keeping serviceable computers out of landfills. The MAR programme provides companies with a means of disposing unused or end-of-life computer equipment which can then be serviced, re-conditioned and installed with new software. These computers can then be donated to a charity or school who might not otherwise be able to afford technology to access the information age.
Equal-IT Initiative Launched to Encourage Women in Northern Ireland into the Workforce
Belfast: 22nd March 2007 – Castlereagh College, FIT NI (Fasttrack to IT Northern Ireland), Microsoft and Springvale Learning Centre have launched Equal-IT, a cross community ICT Training Initiative programme designed to encourage women residing in marginalised communities acquire new skills to effectively participate in the IT industry and where desired secure employment.
Action MS Digital Inclusion Builds on Success
Belfast: 22nd March 2007 - Action MS Digital Inclusion looks to the future as Action MS, together with its business partners, announce a new wave of this ground-breaking programme. Action MS Digital Inclusion is a unique initiative that brings computer technology and broadband internet access to people living with multiple sclerosis. This is delivered together with individual training in their own homes. Action MS Digital Inclusion has opened up a new world of opportunities to people with multiple sclerosis who have been socially isolated.
Enable Ireland Calls on Employers to Accommodate People with Disabilities Through Assistive Technology
Dublin: 19th October, 2006 - Enable Ireland has called on employers to accommodate and consider people with disabilities for employment opportunities at the Microsoft hosted graduation ceremony of the 2006 AT Training Course. 21 graduates were awarded with their certificates today, bringing the total number to 117 after six years.
Microsoft Announces Plans to Ship Irish Language Versions of Windows Vista and 2007 Office
Limerick: October 6th 2006: Microsoft Ireland has announced that it will release Irish language versions of the next releases of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office at no cost to users. Windows Vista and 2007 Office will be available to all customers in 2007. Microsoft has announced, that in partnership with Foras na Gaeilge, it will make its latest products available in the Irish language. As a result, Irish speakers and students will be able to use the latest computer features in an Irish language environment.
Microsoft Unlimited Potential
Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) is a global programme focused on partnering with others to provide technology skills for underserved young people and adults through community-based technology and learning centers (CTLCs).
Microsoft Launches Grant Advisory Service for Irish Businesses
Dublin, May 2nd 2006: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD, today launched the EU Grants Advisor (EUGA) Programme in Ireland. The EUGA initiative has been developed in Ireland by Microsoft, in partnership with HP, Intel, eircom, Bank of Ireland, Chambers Ireland and the Small Firms Association to help raise awareness amongst Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the level of EU and Irish grant aid potentially available to them.
Microsoft Wins Award for Office and Windows as Gaeilge
Belfast, March 4th 2006: Microsoft has been awarded the prize for the company which has done most to promote the use of the Irish language in the prestigious Glór na nGael competition for 2005. The award is in recognition of the localisation of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows into Irish.
Microsoft Wins 2006 O2 Ability Award
Dublin, February 15th 2006: Microsoft has been presented with a 2006 Ability Award in the Leadership category at the 2006 O2 Ability awards dinner in Dublin Castle. The awards recognize companies that have committed to make the work place more accessible to people with disabilities.
FIT Launches in Northern Ireland
Belfast, March 2nd 2006: Fastrack to IT (FIT) has launched an extension of their programme in Belfast. FIT brings together community groups, educators, government bodies and employers to build training programmes for people who are marginalized or long-term unemployed.
Microsoft Supports Hotline.ie
Dublin, February 27th, 2006: The ISPAI www.hotline.ie Service which was created to combat illegal child pornography on the Internet, has published its third annual report that details the number of incidents of child pornography reported by the Irish public. Microsoft has provided www.hotline.ie with software to help the delivery of more effective reporting and monitoring.
Microsoft Helps RNID to Deliver IT Skills in Northern Ireland
Belfast, January 26th, 2006: Microsoft is providing a unique opportunity for a group of deaf and hard of hearing people to acquire essential ICT skills that will significantly improve their employability, through Royal National Institute for the Deaf’s (RNID) Employment and Training Skills Service (ETSS).
Enable Ireland Assistive Technology Graduation At Microsoft Ireland
Dublin, December 14th 2005: Microsoft hosts the Enable Ireland Assistive Technology Graduation ceremony in Sandyford.
Taoiseach Launches Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) €1m Programme
Dublin, November 22, 2004 - The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. today launched a new element of Microsoft’s corporate social responsibility activities, Unlimited Potential, in MACRO Community Centre in Green Street, Dublin 1.
Microsoft Employee Involvement Programme
Microsoft is committed to mobilising the time, talent, expertise and energy of its employees by providing a policy framework for a European wide company sponsored "Employee Involvement Programme".
Other Partnerships
Microsoft was the IT sponsor for the Special Olympics World Games in 2003 with Microsoft software and applications running the majority of the Games technology. Microsoft employees were also very active in a range of fundraising activities and there was a very active ‘Adopt an Athlete’ programme which has resulted in a relationship being maintained with a group of local athletes from the Blackrock Flyers club.