New Voucher Scheme for Remote Working Hubs goes live

New Voucher Scheme for Remote Working Hubs goes live

  • At least 10,000 hot desk days to be provided free of charge
  • Register for your vouchers at ConnectedHubs.ie

 

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, recently announced that the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme has gone live.

At least 10,000 hot desk working days will be provided free of charge over the course of the Scheme, which is aimed at both existing hub users, as well as those accessing hub facilities for the first time.

It is intended that the scheme will run over two phases. Phase one will run from now until August 31st with the second phase starting in September and expected to run into early 2023.

Initially, the first phase sees three vouchers been credited to the accounts of all registered ConnectedHubs.ie users, with each voucher redeemable for a day’s hot-desk working in participating hubs.

Anybody wishing to register for their free vouchers can do so online at www.connectedhubs.ie or via the ConnectedHubs mobile app.

Minister Humphreys said:

 “The census figures released last week show population growth in every county with some of the largest increases happening in rural counties like Longford and Leitrim. This bucks previous trends where we have seen some rural counties experience population decline.

 “The fact is there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before.

 “Through the implementation of Our Rural Future and the continued drive towards remote working, I want to ensure we continue these positive trends for the benefit of our rural communities.

 “The Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme will allow people to try out their local hub for free and I believe many will see it is a much better option for them than working from the kitchen table or facing a long commute.

 

“They may also decide that the hubs in our wonderful regional towns and villages would make the option of relocating, or moving home, a viable one.”

Ends

 

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 087-1734633

[email protected]

 

June 28, 2022

€150m Package of Supports for Rural Communities

€150m Package of Supports for Rural Communities

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys unveils €150 million package of supports for rural communities

  • New €15 million fund to upgrade and refurbish community centres
  • Major focus on Remote Working through initiatives such as Connected Hubs and Town and Village Renewal Scheme
  • Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction
  • Significant investment in our walkways, trails, rivers and lakes under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund
  • Over 300 stakeholders attend special online webinar to hear full details of rural funding schemes
  • Unprecedented Investment underpinned by the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First Policies
  • Calendar of all Funding Schemes published to allow Community Groups to plan ahead
  • Focus on ambitious projects which make a lasting impact to Communities

 Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, recently outlined a package of over €150 million designed to transform rural towns, villages and communities throughout 2022.

New Community Centre Fund

This new capital Fund will invest €15 million in the upgrade and refurbishment of community buildings across the country so that thousands of people of all ages can benefit.  Under the Fund groups and organisations based in both rural and urban communities can apply for grants ranging from €10,000 to €300,000.

Application forms will be available online in the coming weeks

 Announcing the new initiative, Minister Humphreys said:

“If the Pandemic taught us one thing, it’s that we all have discovered the true meaning of ‘community’.

“That’s why I am delighted today to announce the new ‘Community Centres Investment Fund 2022.

“I am making available €15 million which will support the refurbishment and upgrade of community buildings across the country.

“Does your local Community Centre or Parish Hall need an upgrade or facelift?

Does your local community need financial support to carry out fire safety or other necessary repair works? Then this Fund is designed to support you.

“The new Fund will provide grants for small and large-scale projects and help us to provide focal points for communities as they come back together. I will publish details on how local community groups can apply for this funding later this month”

 Focus for 2022

  • Regeneration projects in rural areas that focus on economic growth, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. The ‘Boyle 2040 Project’ was given as a good example of the type of project that could be replicated. Boyle 2040 was previously allocated €4.3 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project shows how regeneration funding can be accessed if a locally driven tailored plan is developed;
  • Remote Working and connectivity. This will include further developing the Connected Hubs Network for remote working, adding to the existing 900 free WiFi4EU hotspots around the country, bringing more publicly accessible Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) online.
  • Outdoor Amenities. A continued focus on investing in our unique amenities such as our walkways, trails, lakes, mountains, blueways and greenways. Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, there will be unprecedented investment in outdoor tourism – supporting activities such as kayaking, cycling, mountaineering, surfing and paragliding.
  • Projects that help communities to bounce back from the pandemic by providing focal points for community activities. This will be done under the likes of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the new Community Centre Investment Fund.

“The capital funding programmes outlined today, including the newly announced Community Centres Investment Fund, are complemented by a suite of ongoing and planned current funded programmes which play a large part in supporting those living in communities, and in many cases ensuring that it is possible for people to engage with these capital supports. There is little point in having great infrastructure if there are not the people using those facilities to deliver the many community & voluntary programmes and schemes across the country. That is why I am committed to supporting the Community & Voluntary sector to maximise its impact in communities throughout Ireland.”

Timetable for rural and community investment programmes

Rural Development Schemes
2022 Open 2022 Closing
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)

 

Supports large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

 

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/05bfe-rural-regeneration-and-development-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=rural-regeneration-and-development

 

 Category 1 – currently open (Large-scale capital projects which are ready to commence on the date of application).

 

Category 2 – To open in August

(Seed capital funding for

strategic, large-scale projects)

 Closes on 29th April

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category 2, closes in Q 4
Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais (CLÁR)

 

Provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas.

 

  • Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities (MUGAs, Playgrounds, etc)
  • Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
  • Measure 3: “Our Islands”

 

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=small-scale-rural-projects-clar

  

 

 

Opened 24th February

  

Measure 1 & Measure 3, close on 6th May

 

Measure 2, closes on 8th April

 

 

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)

 

Provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. (Adventure Tourism type projects, Blueways, Walking Trails, Boardwalks, etc)

 

  • Measure 1 for small scale projects requiring funding of up to €30,000,
  • Measure 2 for medium scale projects with funding of up to €200,000,
  • Measure 3 for large scale projects seeking funding of up to €500,000, and
  • Project Development Measure funding of up to €50,000 for development costs for strategic large scale projects.

 

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d14e1-outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme

  

 

 

 

 

 

Opened 18th February

  

 

 

Measure 1 & Project Development Measure to close on 19th April

 

Measure 2 & Measure 3 to close on 25th May
Town and Village Renewal Scheme Connected Hubs Call

 

Development of remote working facilities joining the National Connected Hubs Network

 

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/16b47-connected-hubs-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=connected-hubs-fund

  

 

Opened 21st February

  

 

Closes on 4th April
Local Improvement Scheme

 

Provides funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and

non-publicly maintained roads

 

More information available at

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/b03384-local-improvement-scheme-lis/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=local-road-improvement

  

Allocations to Local Authorities in March

  

 

Managed by Local Authorities
Town and Village Renewal Scheme – Streetscapes

 

Support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts

 

Information available when launched

  

Scheduled to open end of March

 Managed by Local Authorities in consultation with communities, town teams and businesses
Town and Village Renewal

Scheme

 

Designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages. (Regeneration of old buildings, development of town parks, etc)

 

More information available at

https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/

  

 

Scheduled to open in April

  

 

Closes end of June

 

 

 

 

Social Enterprise Schemes
2022 Open 2022 Closing
Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise – Capital Supports

 

Provides capital grants for the scaling up of social

Enterprises

 

More information on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/624c74-social-enterprise/#funding-and-supports-for-social-enterprises

  

 

Scheduled to open in early May

  

 

Closes in late June

 

 

Community Schemes
2022 Open 2022 Closing
Community Centres Investment

Fund

 

An annual capital grants programme for the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres.

 

More information on launch

  

 

Scheduled to open in March

  

Category 1 closes on 30th June

 

Category 2 & 3 close on 31st July
Empowering Communities Fund

 

A new targeted scheme to address area based disadvantage

 

More information on launch

  

Scheduled to open end April
Community Activities Fund

 

Small scale grants to assist community groups

 

More information on launch

  

Operated by LCDCs

  

Closing dates vary – contact your LCDC

 

March 23, 2022

Series of Initiatives Announced to Support Remote Working

Series of Initiatives Announced to Support Remote Working

  • Workers can now book desk space in their local hub via new Mobile App
  • 200 hubs on connected hubs network – making Remote Working a reality for thousands
  • National Awareness Campaign launched to promote the benefits of working from a Hub in your community
  •  €5 million Connected Hubs Fund to enhance Remote Working facilities

 The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has recently announced a number of major new initiatives that will support Remote Working across the country.

For the first time, workers will now be able to book office or desk space in their local hub through a new mobile app called Connected Hubs.

Minister Humphreys also announced €5 million in funding, through the Connected Hubs 2022 Call, which will be used to build capacity and enhance existing Remote Working facilities.

These initiatives will be underpinned by a major new National Awareness Campaign, designed to promote the many benefits of choosing your local hub for your working day.  The Awareness Campaign will be run by the Department of Rural and Community Development with the support of the Western Development Commission (WDC).

Minister Humphreys also revealed today that the number of Remote Working facilities on the Connected Hubs Network will exceed 200 this week. This represents over half of the 400 hubs pledged as part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s landmark rural development policy.

Announcing the series of initiatives at the Mill Enterprise Centre in Drogheda, Co Louth, Minister Humphreys said:

“If COVID-19 has taught us one thing – it’s that the benefits of Remote Working are huge.

“Less time spent commuting. A lower carbon footprint. More time spent with family and friends. But above all – a better quality of life.

“Over the past two years, we have embarked on a mission never seen before. My Department has invested €100million in the development of remote working facilities in our towns and villages nationwide.

“Across Ireland, we have taken many old and derelict buildings and re-purposed them into state-of-the-art Remote Working facilities.

“Former banks, cinemas, garda stations, convents and train stations have become local digital hubs.

“In addition we have provided funding to upgrade and enhance existing hub facilities.

“These are now part of a new network called ‘Connected Hubs’ – which is at the forefront of our efforts to make Remote Working a reality for tens of thousands of workers.”

Minister Humphreys concluded:

“Thankfully we are now beginning to return to normal life, but that does not mean we should go back to the old normal – the days of the long commute, sitting in traffic when you could be spending that time with your family and friends.

“Equally not everybody wants to or has the space to work from home permanently. The kitchen table or your bedroom is not a permanent solution. If you want a clear line of where work-life ends and family-life begins – then working from your local hub is the solution for you.

“Today, I am also specifically encouraging employers and businesses to look at the facilities available through Connected Hubs when developing their future plans for blended or hybrid working. These hubs can enable your staff to work in a safe, secure environment with high-speed broadband and all the necessary office equipment available to them.

“Over the coming weeks, my Department will embark on a major awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of Connected Hubs for both workers and employers”.

Connected Hubs Mobile App

The launch of the connected hubs mobile app will allow users to find their nearest hub facility and easily book a desk space using their mobile device. The Connected Hubs mobile app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android.

€5million Connected Hubs Call 2022

The primary objective of the Connected Hubs Call 2022, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, is to support and complement the development of the National Hub Network, which is a key action of the Rural Development Policy – Our Rural Future and also the National Remote Working Strategy – Making Remote Work. The Connected Hubs Call 2022 aims to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in Ireland by upgrading existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs). This funding is in addition to €8.8million provided for 117 remote working projects across the country in 2021.

Details of the Connected Hubs 2022 Call are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/16b47-connected-hubs-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=connected-hubs-fund

February 22, 2022

IFA Telecom Announces Market-leading Offer

IFA Telecom Announces Market-leading Offer

IFA Telecom Announces Market-leading Offer

Deal includes six months FREE phone and broadband and will provide you with competitive packages

IFA Telecom has launched a new offer which will save you up to €350 on home phone and broadband packages.

James Kelly, IFA’s Director of Organisation said, “As we emerge from the pandemic, one of the main aims of our business is to ensure we continue to deliver fantastic service and incredible value.”

“Broadband access is more important than ever for rural Irish families. The pandemic accelerated the need for a reliable broadband service and IFAT is best placed to provide this service to the rural community.

“With IFA Telecom, there are no hidden costs, and we provide exceptional customer service. Our Customer Service team is based right here in the Farm Centre and are trained to know our service inside-out.”

For more information on this offer or to sign up, contact IFA Telecom on 0818 924 852.

September 29, 2021