A host of remote working hubs in County Longford have been significantly upgraded as part of the Connected Hubs Call.

Four of the county's eight Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) were upgraded, as well as work on the new co:worx digital hub in Edgeworthstown.

Funded by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, the facilities at Abbeyshrule, Moydow, Mullinalaghta, Moyne and Edgeworthstown were enhanced with improved equipment, additional functionality, and more privacy.

Over €234k was allocated to the work under the Connected Hubs Call in July 2021. This aimed to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in Ireland by upgrading existing hubs and BCPs.

Additional funding of €119,993.15 was announced in June under the Connected Hubs Call 2022. This will further enhance the facilities at Abbeyshrule Airfield, Latin School Community Centre in Moyne, and Moydow Community Centre, as well as at Ardagh Hub.

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The Connected Hubs Call was designed to support and complement the development of a National Hub Network which is a key action of the Rural Development Policy 'Our Rural Future' and the National Remote Working Strategy 'Making Remote Work'.

All these upgrades will offer people in Longford a better work-life balance through the availability of high-quality office space in their local communities, helping people to live, work and participate locally.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern said: "I want to pay tribute to Minister Humphreys, her Department of Rural and Community Development and especially our IT and Regeneration Departments here at Longford County Council and more importantly the local BCP committees, for the very quick turnaround on putting this funding to such great use. We also welcome the additional funding announced earlier this year, with this work already well underway to further enhance remote working hubs in Longford. These hubs positively impact community life and our local economy."

Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added: "Longford has been a leading light in making remote working hubs an operational reality in rural Ireland and this development brings that one step further again with these facility upgrades already proving popular in our BCPs. There have been over 2157 guests using this service this year so far, with 80% of those returning, regular users."