4. Explore the possibility of providing employers with a tax credit for every employee that is allowed to operate outside of its own head office in Ireland, as a means of encouraging private firms to let employees work in geographical locations of their own choice. 5. Enhance the level of funding provided to the “Regional Enterprise Development Fund” (REDF) in order to deliver more co-working hubs in line with the findings of the above consultation process. Such funding should also be delivered using local knowledge from appropriate local authorities and the Regional Assemblies of Ireland. Additional funding in this regard should be concentrated on delivering high quality co-working hubs of scale within or in close proximity to designated Regional Growth Centres and Key Towns as defined by each Assembly’s RSES and prominent rural communities.
THE PURPOSE OF THE “REGIONAL CO-WORKING ANALYSIS” IS TO PROVIDE DATA THAT WILL ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF REMOTE WORKING IN OUR REGIONS.
6. Explore a range of match funding opportunities for REDF projects that will deliver additional co-working hubs of scale within or in close proximity to Designated Regional Growth Centres and Key Towns as defined by each Assembly’s RSES and prominent rural communities. This could involve – but wouldn’t be limited to – encouraging private sector companies to provide an element of match funding for these type of REDF projects or possibly removing the 20 per cent match funding requirement for these type of REDF projects that will provide a sizeable economic uplift to a geographical area. 7. Utilise resources from the “European Regional Development Fund” to assist in developing high quality co-working hubs of scale within or in close proximity to designated Regional Growth Centres and Key Towns as defined by each Assembly’s RSES and prominent rural communities. Such funding should be delivered using the findings of the above consultation process and local knowledge from appropriate local authorities and the Regional Assemblies of Ireland. 8. Safeguard funding for the National Broadband Plan to allow for the delivery of up to three hundred “Broadband Connection Points” across Ireland, providing remote working opportunities in rural communities.
Ultimately, a sizeable proportion of the private sector workers that have been identified as being able to operate remotely may prefer to work from their own homes or from company offices that comply with public health guidelines. However, whether it be due to a lack of broadband, a desire to avoid long commutes or personal factors, a reasonable proportion of these private sector workers may wish to utilise co-working hubs as an alternative option. Providing greater employment flexibility to all private sectors workers capable of operating remotely can open up an array of economic and environmental benefits for our regions. In doing so, the provision of co-working hubs can act as a significant tool in facilitating the vision and objectives of each Assembly’s RSES, ensuring each of our regions can achieve effective economic development at a time when an inclusive economic recovery is needed now more than ever.
John Daly Economist of the Three Regional Assemblies of Ireland
Northern &Western Regional Assembly
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THE THREE REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES OF IRELAND
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