17 December 1999

17 Nollaig 1999

SAVE YOUR HOMEWORK FROM THE MILLENNIUM BUG - MINISTER

SÁBHÁIL DO CHUID OBAIR BHAILE Ó FHRÍDÍN NA MÍLAOISE - AN tAIRE

The Minister for Education, Martin McGuinness MP, today warned parents and students to ensure that any school work which they have on computers at home is protected from the Millennium Bug.

Thug an tAire Oideachais, Martin McGuinness, Feisire Parlaiminte, foláireamh inniu do thuismitheoirí agus do mhic léinn a chinntiú go bhfuil aon obair scoile atá ar ríomhairí sa bhaile acu cosanta in éadan Fhrídín na Mílaoise.

The Minister said:

Dúirt an tAire:

"My Department, the Education and Library Boards and all the schools have been working hard for many months to eliminate the possibility of disruption from computer failures in the New Year. We have completed major programmes to test a vast range of computer systems in the process and these have been evaluated by experts to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.

Tá mo Roinn féin, na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne agus na scoileanna uile ag obair go crua le míonna anuas lena chinntiú nach dtarlóidh aon chur isteach de bharr teipeanna ríomhaire san Athbhliain. Lena linn sin tá cláir chuimsitheacha curtha i gcrích againn le réimse ollfhairsing córas ríomhairí a thástáil agus rinneadh iad sin a mheas ag saineolaithe lena dhéanamh cinnte nach ndearnadh neamart in aon rud.

"I am confident that there is little risk of computer failures in schools and the bodies responsible for education here.

Tá mé muiníneach gur beag an chontúirt atá ann go dtarlóidh teipeanna ríomhaire sna scoileanna agus sna forais atá freagrach as oideachas anseo.

"However, I am mindful that many young people have computers at home and will use these for some of their school work. I think it is essential that parents and students are aware that they need to ensure the Millennium Bug does not affect the hard work put in at home.

Mar sin féin, is eol dom go bhfuil ríomhairí sa bhaile ag cuid mhór daoine óga agus go mbeidh siad á n-úsáid faoi choinne cuid dá n-obair scoile. Sílim go bhfuil sé barrthábhachtach go mbeadh a fhios ag tuismitheoirí agus ag mic léinn go gcaithfidh siad a chinntiú nach mbeidh aon éifeacht ag Frídín na Mílaoise ar an obair chrua a dhéantar sa bhaile.

"My Department sent posters to all schools here to tell students that there are a few easy steps they can take to protect valuable course work.

Chuir an Roinn póstaeir chuig gach scoil anseo le hinsint do dhaltaí go bhfuil cúpla céim fhurasta a thig leo a ghlacadh le hobair chúrsa luachmhar a chosaint.

"Even if a computer is relatively new, copies of all important documents should be made - on floppy disks for example - and they should be printed out on paper as an extra safeguard.

Fiú má tá an ríomhaire measartha úr, ba chóir cóip a dhéanamh de gach cáipéis thábhachtach - ar dhioscaí flapacha, mar shampla - agus ba chóir iad a phriontáil amach ar páipéar mar chosaint bhreise.

"I would not recommend that parents or young people attempt to fix any problems themselves. This is a job for the experts. They should get in touch with the manufacturers or shops where they bought the computers so that they are fixed in line with the manufacturers' instructions.

Ní mholfainn do thuismitheoirí ná do dhaoine óga iarracht a dhéanamh aon fhadhbanna a chóiriú iad féin. Is post do na saineolaithe é seo. Ba chóir dóibh dul i dteagmháil leis na déantúsóirí nó leis na siopaí inar cheannaigh siad na ríomhairí sa dóigh go ndeisítear iad de réir threoracha na ndéantúsóirí.

"We have also included a special section on the Department's website for students and I would recommend anyone who can access the site to read the advice given.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá rannóg ar leith curtha ar fáil againn ar láithreán gréasáin na Roinne do mhic léinn agus mholfainn do dhuine ar bith a bhfuil teacht ar an láithreán aige an chomhairle a thugtar a léamh.

"I very much hope that the "Millennium Bug" will not strike, but it is essential to take these very easy steps to safeguard important work."

Tá súil agam nach mbuailfidh "Frídín na Mílaoise" muid, ach tá sé barrthábhachtach na céimeanna an-fhurasta seo a ghlacadh le hobair thábhachtach a chosaint."

 

Notes for Editors

Nótaí d'Eagarthóirí

1 - Work to ensure Y2K compliance throughout the education sector in Northern Ireland has been going on for almost four years monitored by the Department of Education.

Each organisation has its own Year 2000 Action Plan. Independent assessment by consultants has confirmed that all business critical systems were Year 2000 compliant at the end of September.

Tá an obair lena chinntiú go bhfuiltear in oiriúint don Bhliain 2000 ag dul ar aghaidh le beagnach ceithre bliana ar fud earnáil an oideachais i dTuaisceart Éireann, faoi mhonatóireacht na Roinne Oideachais.

Tá a Plean Gníomhaíochta don Bhliain 2000 féin ag gach eagraíocht. Tá sé deimhnithe ag measúnú neamhspleách ag comhairleoirí go raibh na córais uile atá práinneach le haghaidh gnó in oiriúint don Bhliain 2000 faoi dheireadh Mheán Fómhair.

2 - The Department issued an advice pack to schools at the beginning of December. It included checklists for Principals in relation to school systems and a poster aimed at providing advice to young people who may have access to a computer at home.

D'eisigh an Roinn paca comhairle chuig scoileanna i dtús mhí na Nollag. Sa phaca sin bhí seicliostaí do Phríomhoidí maidir le córais scoile agus póstaer arbh aidhm dó comhairle a sholáthar do dhaoine óga a bhféadfadh teacht a bheith acu ar ríomhaire sa bhaile.

3 - The website with advice to students can be accessed at http://www.deni.gov.uk/millennium/index.htm

Is féidir teacht ar an láithreán gréasáin le comhairle do mhic léinn ag http://www.deni.gov.uk/millennium/index.htm