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A new Digital and Innovation Hub has been opened in the County Galway village of Spiddal.
The project was completed using government funding through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. It is the first project to be completed under this funding scheme.
Speaking at the opening of the gteic@An Spidéal Hub, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael 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.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Chief Executive, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, added: "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."
(CM/JG)
