First project to be completed under Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
Hub part of a network of high speed broadband facilities in rural Gaeltacht areas
Emphasis on job creation in creative and digital media sectors
Mr Michael Ring, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, today (Friday, 25th October 2019) officially opened the first project to be completed using funding provided by the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, established as part of Project Ireland 2040 .
Speaking today at the opening of the gteic@An Spidéal Hub, Minister Ring said:
The €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), administered by my Department, is a key part of Project Ireland 2040. It seeks to support strategic, large-scale projects which have the potential to drive economic and social progress in rural Ireland.
This state of the art gteic@An Spidéal Digital and Innovation Hub, developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta here in An Spidéal, is one such project and I was delighted to have been in a position to allocate €548,887 from the Fund to complete this project.
gteic@An Spidéal will help create employment opportunities and will provide a vibrant, modern, high speed broadband facility for start-up and established enterprises. The Hub will support employment in the local area both directly and indirectly and will have a particular emphasis on the creative and digital media sectors.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to make a significant impact which will transform rural communities, building their resilience and contribute to the objectives of Project Ireland 2040.
The gteic Hub was approved for funding from the first call for projects to be funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Under the first call, €86 million in funding for projects throughout the country was announced by Minister Ring.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State Seán Kyne T.D. said:
I am very pleased to be here with my colleague, Minister Ring, at the opening of the gteic Hub in An Spidéal. This Hub will provide opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs while also encouraging people to consider setting up or returning to the region and is in line with commitments made in my Department’s 5-Year Plan for the Irish Language.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Chief Executive, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, said:
Údarás na Gaeltachta are delighted to have developed this modern, innovative and attractive landmark hub in our gteic network with the significant assistance of RRDF funding. gteic@An Spidéal is part of a growing and vibrant network of high speed broadband facilities we are developing in rural Gaeltacht areas which will stimulate job creation, assist remote working, encourage and enable the return of Diaspóra na Gaeltachta, facilitate concept development and new business and will also develop a community of hubs where the unique Gaeltacht culture drives creativity and innovation.
Minister Ring concluded:
This project is an excellent example of how rural communities across the country are beginning to realise the benefits of the massive level of investment delivered by Project Ireland 2040 and the additional economic and social progress being achieved on foot of the funding. My Department and I will continue to advance the rural development agenda across Government and will continue to build on the excellent progress achieved to date.
Note to editors:
Project Ireland 2040 – The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the next ten years, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027, and the National Planning Framework which outlines the broader policy principles and priorities in planning for future population and economic growth to 2040.
Project Ireland 2040 established four new capital funds:
- Urban Regeneration and Development Fund: €2bn (Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government)
- Rural Regeneration and Development Fund: €1bn (Department of Rural & Community Development)
- Disruptive Technologies Fund: €500m (Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation)
- Climate Action Fund: €500m (Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment)
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the objective in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities and will be rolled out over a 10-year period. The Fund is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Fund will provide investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas which will deliver on the aims of Project Ireland 2040 and achieve sustainable economic and social development in these areas. Initial funding of €315 million has been allocated to the fund on a phased basis over the period 2019 to 2022
Under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, funding of €86 million was announced for 84 projects from the first call over two announcements in Sligo (November 2018) and Castlebayney (February 2019).
The lists of projects already announced can be found at:
First announcement: https://assets.gov.ie/3235/231118125436-d956244f25c94c9484990fb37bf96c36.pdf
Second announcement: https://assets.gov.ie/6885/295393aa4bbb4298b56800ebf1d2f41c.pdf
The second call for applications to the Fund for Category 1 proposals (projects which are fully planning and consent ready) was launched in April 2019 and closed on 6 August 2019. The announcement of the successful projects from the second call will be made by the end of the year.
The second call for Category 2 applications (projects requiring further development in order to be ready for Category 1) will also be launched by the end of this year.
gteic
gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is a network of innovation & digital hubs with high speed broadband connectivity being developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta in locations throughout Ireland’s Gaeltacht Area. The innovations hubs are being delivered along the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork in addition to Waterford and Meath in Ireland’s Ancient East. Six Gaeltacht islands and seven non-Gaeltacht islands also form part of this growing digital ecosystem which is providing vital infrastructure and facilitating worldwide connectivity to these rural areas.
Seven hubs have been opened to date in Gaoth Dobhair in Co. Donegal, Béal an Mhuirthead in Co. Mayo, Carna, An Cheathrú Rua and Na Forbacha in Co. Galway, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh in Co. Cork and the Mol Teic/Dingle hub in Daingean Uí Chúis in Co. Kerry. It is expected that a further seven gteic hubs are on track to be completed and welcoming customers in Baile an Sceilg (South Kerry), Cill Charthaigh (Donegal), Oileán Chléire (Cork), Acaill, An Eachléim, Gaoth Sáile and An Corrán Buí (Mayo) by the end of 2019.
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.
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 high speed internet connectivity to facilitate innovation and concept development.
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.
This innovative digital hub network is set to reinvigorate Irelands Gaeltacht areas where 31 gteic innovation & digital hubs will provide 500 desk spaces for innovators, entrepreneurs, remote workers and businesses throughout 7 Gaeltacht Counties.
It represents a growing digital ecosystem which 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 work-life balance that these picturesque areas can offer.