South Kerry Development Partnership CLG. (SKDP) has secured more that €68,000 in grant aid funding for five South Kerry Broadband Hubs under the recently announced Connected Hubs Initiative. The Partnership applied for the funding collectively on behalf of organisations operating facilities designated as Broadband Connection Points in Foilmore, Valentia, Inch, Bonnane and Barraduff.
The funding will be used to undertake a range of elements including the expansion of remote working infrastructure, the installation of privacy booths, the installation of access control and security systems, providing upgrades of audio visual and IT Network systems, upgrading meeting rooms and signage as well as catering for energy efficiency upgrades across the five centres. The funding is being provided to the groups at a rate of 90% of the total cost of their projects with the other 10% being met from the groups’ own resources.
The elements being delivered under this initiative will ensure that top class facilities are available for all in the surrounding communities who wish to use the Broadband Connection Points. Work on delivering the elements is already underway and it expected to be completed by the end of November.
SKDP CEO Noel Spillane said he was delighted that the application made on behalf of the groups was successful. “This funding is crucial to ensure that the organisations running the facilities designated as BCP’s can provide the levels of service needed by users and will help to ensure the facilities can be open for many more hours in the day” Noel said. “The demand for top class broadband facilities to cater for people involved in home working has grown significantly during the COVID crisis and is likely to increase further into the future”, he said adding that this will not only benefit local people but also visitors to these areas. “So much more activity in areas such as farming and general banking has gone online in recent years and it is crucial, particularly in more rural areas, that proper facilities with broadband access is available to enable people do their vital day to day tasks efficiently” Noel concluded.