Skift Take
A huge, sprawling network of connected hubs are gradually however surely being constructed throughout Ireland’s rural areas. All it requires now are remote workers.
Matthew Parsons, Skift
When they state remote work, they mean it. Ireland’s government is investing $300,000 in Galway to set up high-speed internet throughout the area, including its overseas islands. However including these so-called Broadband Connection Points is simply one small part of an ambitious five-year federal government project called Our Rural Future that wishes to get the facilities in place to make remote work a truth. The federal government last week announced it was investing $10.4 million in 117 remote working jobs as part of its National Hub Network scheme — that includes Galway and a host of other areas. Join United States at Skift Global Forum in NYC September 21-23 The media mainly got how picturesque bars could be changed into work environments when the federal government published the policy in March. There’s clearly more to it than that. Jobs will get grants varying from $12,000 to nearly $300,000, with cash invested in elements like constructing refits, privacy booths, control and security systems and modular workplaces, in addition to updating audio, visual, networking and conferencing facilities up and down the nation. However, facilities is just the beginning of the journey. Growing the Network The first stage is focused on building a network of these office centers, and web points, to boost and include capability to remote working facilities in every area across Ireland. The objective was to have 400 hubs in location, however a federal government spokesperson told Skift it’s already gone beyond that target, with 408 currently mapped out. Minister Heather Humphreys (left) promotes Connected Hubs in Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland. Image: Julien Behal Photography “Our Rural Future acknowledges hubs as perfect locations for people to work from another location, along with functioning as crucial financial assets for towns