Plans for six new digital hubs across Co Donegal have been unveiled by Udaras na Gaeltachta.
The hubs are part of an ambitious plan to create remote working spaces for businesses across the seven Gaeltacht counties.
Under the ambitious plan, a new hub will be opened in Kilcar before the end of this year.
There are also now firm plans for similar innovative hubs to be opened in Termon, Carrigart, Arranmore Island, Tory Island and Dungloe.
A similar hub already exists in the Gaoth Dobhair area.
gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is a network of 31 innovation & digital hubs with highspeed broadband being developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The new gigabit enabled Gaeltacht network will be launched by Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and Islands, Seán Kyne, in the Italian Room in Government Buildings today.
The innovation hubs are to be dotted along the majestic Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork in addition to Waterford and Meath in Ireland’s Ancient East.
Six Gaeltacht islands also form part of this growing digital ecosystem to support the sustainability of these communities and off-shore islands.
Údarás na Gaeltachta has invested over €1.5 million in the development of the hubs, with additional funding in excess of €3.5 million from the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund by year end.
The gteic hubs, tailored to suit each unique location, will include hot desk and shared space facilities for remote workers and eworkers in addition to fully equipped office spaces and incubation units with high speed internet access to facilitate innovation and concept development.
The Vision
The development of gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta network of innovation and digital hubs is one of 5 key initiatives included in the Údarás na Gaeltachta Strategic Plan 2018-2020.
The gteic digital hubs will provide a vibrant network of high speed broadband facilities in rural Gaeltacht areas to stimulate job creation, to assist remote working, to encourage and enable the return of Diaspóra na Gaeltachta, to facilitate concept development and new business and to develop a community of hubs where the unique Gaeltacht culture drives creativity and innovation.
The Opportunity
These developments will give the Gaeltacht community, both at home and abroad, an opportunity to return to or live in their home area by providing remote working opportunities at hot desks, co-working spaces or private offices at these hubs. This in turn will support, bolster and assist these unique language communities and help them to face the challenges of rural depopulation.
An opportunity of improved worklife balance will not be the only benefit of gteic membership! A reciprocal arrangement agreed with the Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin means that any member of the GEC can avail of the gteic facilities anywhere along the network and members of the gteic digital community can avail of the facilities in GEC in Dublin free of charge.
The Offering
gteic hubs include hot desk and shared space facilities for remote workers and eworkers in addition, depending on location, to fully equipped office spaces and incubation units with highspeed internet access to facilitate innovation and concept development. These hubs will facilitate people who wish to develop a business concept and will provide access to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s range of mentoring and business supports also.
This growing digital ecosystem is providing an excellent opportunity for new technology companies to establish or locate themselves in the rural areas which encompass the Gaeltacht and for their employees to enjoy the excellent worklife balance that these picturesque areas can offer.
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