Lisburn children to get smartcards for meals, libraries, sport

Schoolchildren in Lisburn are boldly going where no other pupils have been before with a new British-government-backed photographic smartcard sceme.

Lisburn will be the first place in the North to issue around 6,500 children from eight schools with the microchip cards to use for school meals, borrowing library books and accessing sports and leisure facilities.

The MyCard pilot scheme was launched today by the Northern Ireland eGovernment Unit and Lisburn City Council.

John McKernan, deputy director of the Northern Ireland eGovernment Unit, said young people in Lisburn were being given a tremendous opportunity to participate in a unique and exciting experiment.

“If successful, I fully expect that this pilot scheme will pave the way for a province-wide card to be implemented that represents a truly joined up component of the OnlineNI eGovernment Strategy,” he confirmed.

The scheme has received the backing of Lisburn Retailers Association, with some offering discounts to cardholders.

The organisers are also exploring the possibility that the card could be used on buses, trains and potentially taxis.

Lisburn Mayor Jonathan Craig welcomed the decision to use the city as the pilot area for the scheme.

“The introduction of the smartcards brins with it significant benefits for our young people, as well as the potential for continued development in the future, as more and more services become fully compatible,” the Democratic Unionist mayor said.

“I look forward to the system becoming operational in the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in the New Year and I would encourage local retailers and transport operators to get on board and find out about the new MyCard system.”