The Connected Hubs Fund will help expand the facilities of existing hubs with hot desks, office spaces, electric car charging points, disability access upgrades and more.

The government has announced a $ 5 million fund to help develop Ireland’s first national hub network and promote long-distance work across the country.

The Connected Hubs Fund is part of a five – year rural development strategy unveiled last month. Heather Humphries, Minister for Rural and Social Development, announced the fund today (April 29) at TD, saying it was “determined not to miss out on the opportunities offered by remote work.”

Funding will be used to develop existing hubs or broadband connection points with hot desks, office spaces and meeting rooms, as well as charging points for electric cars, upgrades for the disabled and improved computer facilities. It will also be used to help hubs adapt more to physical distance guidance.

Humphries said the fund will make these centers bigger and more accessible, which will provide a better experience for workers and students.

This is part of the government’s strategy to create a nationwide network of hubs that can be accessed through an application with a booking platform. He has already identified more than 400 remote work centers across the country, and he works to map and study each offer services.

“Hubs are a great opportunity to take on mixed jobs,” Humphries said. Encouraging people to take advantage of a hot desk or office space in a neighboring country can also benefit the local economy.

The government is developing new poles through the Rehabilitation, Rural Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Program.

The Connected Hubs Fund will provide grants of $ 10,000 to $ 250,000 for projects to expand existing remote work infrastructure, establish privacy booths in hubs, improve energy efficiency, and conduct marketing campaigns to promote the use of hubs.

“For the past 12 months, many of us have been reaping the benefits of working remotely – less travel, spending more time with your family, increasing urban transportation, and reducing carbon footprints,” Humphries said.

“As we emerge from this epidemic, the government has decided to make remote work a permanent reality for thousands of people.”