Therein Lies The Hub

Wicklow Hub

atest press release from Minister Simon Harris, issued on Thursday, July 22nd 2021…

Wicklow Fine Gael Minister Simon Harris TD has welcomed the news that three Wicklow remote working facilities have received funding under the Connected Hubs Scheme.

Minister Harris said: “The last year has created an enormous opportunity for County Wicklow with the growth in remote working. People having to commute shorter distances is good for the environment and the local economy with people spending more of their money locally. Remote working has presented a number of challenges, in particular the need for quality remote working facilities for workers, whose own home may not have suitable space and furniture to facilitate safe remote office working.”

The three Wicklow Hubs that have received funding thus far under the Connected Hubs Scheme are:

Wicklow Office Suites, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
€22,500.00
Office restructuring works, improving security features and general upgrades.

Wicklow Hub, Newtown Business Park, Newtown Mount Kennedy
€75,000.00
Additional office space including external roof space, installing video conferencing, sound proofing and other general upgrades

Arklow Business Enterprise Centre CLG, Kilbride Industrial Estate, Arklow
€35,100.00
Full office fit out to include electrics, networking, fire safety, flooring, an element of partitioning and furniture.

The Connected Hubs Scheme will enable existing hubs and broadband connection points to enhance and add capacity to remote working infrastructure in every region across Ireland.

This investment will support the ongoing development of the recently launched National Hub Network – connectedhubs.ie – which already has more than 100 hubs using the platform and 380 hubs mapped.

Minister Harris added: “This is only a start. I have met many community groups and premises owners across the County Wicklow with excellent viable remote working hubs that would help revitalise our local villages and communities. I have been impressing upon both the local authority and the Department of Rural and Community Development the need to expand supports for these initiatives as they will pay for themselves in increased local prosperity.

Remote working can be a game changer for County Wicklow and I fully support the expansion of schemes such as the Connected Hubs Scheme to accelerate the necessary transition to a more environmentally sustainable working environment”.