Press release
Our Rural Future: New Voucher Scheme for Remote Working Hubs goes live
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today 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 2 phases. Phase one will run from now until 31 August 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.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am delighted to announce that the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme is now live. This scheme gives people an opportunity to try out our many remote working hubs across the country for free. This Voucher Scheme will help more people to realise the benefits of remote working and will provide an opportunity to ‘try before you buy’. Whether you are fitting in some work while on holiday in Ireland or looking to relocate to rural Ireland, Connected Hubs has an option for you.”
Minister Humphreys continued:
“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.”
Connectedhubs.ie is the shared online booking platform of the National Hub Network. The National Hub Network emerged from successful pilot projects in the West of Ireland developed in partnership between the Western Development Commission and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.