INOU launch web-site

13 Sep 2000

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has today launched a completely user friendly web-site (http://www.inou.ie) which features up to date press releases and policy positions, links to INOU affiliates throughout the country, the latest labour market statistics and the details of the campaigning activities of the organisation.

Tony Monks, General Secretary of the INOU commenting on the launch of the site said "This will be a great source of up to date information for all our affiliated organisations and members throughout the country, and for all those working in the areas of unemployment and social exclusion. The site will also be an invaluable source for journalists and researchers as well as elected public representatives. The extremely successful 'Employers Pack' which features best practice for employers who want to recruit unemployed people is available on line, as is the complementary 'Job Seeking Skills Pack' for unemployed people trying to get back into work.

"The long term unemployed continue to have the least access to information technology, Government must focus their attention in ensuring that we do not create a two tiered information society. Hopefully as more community and voluntary organisations develop web-sites, there will be more relevant information on line for unemployed people."

The core sections of the INOU site are driven by database technology. This helps to ensure that web users can easily search for, and access information. It also allows INOU staff to update the site directly ensuring that the site brings users the most up to date press releases, policy positions and events.

The INOU site is accessible to people with disabilities. A text only version of the site has been constructed to W3C accessibility standards to ensure that as wide a range of people as possible can access the information regardless of their physical abilities. The text only site conforms to 'Bobby Standards' (http://www.cast.org/bobby) and carries the 'Bobby Approved' badge.

The site has been constructed by TechnoFutures Ltd. (http://www.technofutures.ie), a young technology company that focuses on the IT needs of not-for -profit and voluntary organisations.