The Government has this morning signed off on funding to the value of €423,047 for the development of a number of remote working hubs across the county, under the Our Rural Future: Connected Hubs Scheme. In total, six different Tipperary-based applications have been successful in this round of funding, with grants awarded by the Department of Rural and Community Development ranging from €16,260.00 to €250,000. This positive news was welcomed this morning by local Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill who pointed to these new hubs as a prime example of this government’s commitment to investing in rural Ireland, and adopting to changing working patterns and techniques in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on this today, Deputy Cahill said: “I am delighted to welcome almost half a million in funding for Tipperary today that will see our county develop and improve a range of remote working hubs in various locations around the county. This funding will enable existing hubs and broadband connection points to enhance and add capacity to remote working infrastructure across the Premier County.
Deputy Cahill explained how Tipperary County Council’s successful application sees the maximum value of €250,000 being awarded that will be used to “provide remote working facility upgrades, disabled toilets, signage upgrades, Covid mitigation and IT resources across 21 Broadband Connection Points, located in Cashel, Thurles, Roscrea, Clonmel, Fethard, Newport, Templemore, Nenagh, Birdhill, Ballina, Cahir, Tipperary, Ballylooby.”
“Other locations around Tipperary that are to see considerable investment in digital hubs and remote working facilities include Tipperary Town Digital Hib, which is set to received over €20,000 in funding. My hometown of Thurles is also benefitting from €67,148.76 for proposed works to the Thurles Chamber Enterprise Centre and a further €16,250 for Slieveardagh Rural Development, which is a Social Enterprise based in Thurles.
Cahill continued to say that: “Cloughjordan, which is a flagship sustainable community with the Ecovillage situated locally, has been approved for €30,350 in funding for the areas of digitalisation and the green economy for rural communities.
“Finally, at the other end of the county to Cloughjordan, we have €42,081.60 being invested in Stable Lane Digital Operations in Carrick-on-Suir that will see 6 additional remote working spaces added to this existing hub. It will also provide for upgrading meeting facilities and will expand and improve the overall offering of the hub.
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome such considerable funding coming to Tipperary today, that will see every corner of our large county become more connected and accessible to the remote working network. The last year and a half has completely transformed how people are going to work, where they can work from and the type of work they will be doing.
“Remote working is making rural Ireland accessible to people who want to live here, raise families here, and build a life here, while accessing jobs that would traditionally only have been workable in urban areas and cities. I will continue to work with my colleagues in government to see more funding like this coming to rural Ireland and Tipperary during the lifetime of this government”, Cahill concluded.
