Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection

Rural Hubs, Broadband and Mobile Phone Coverage in Rural Ireland: Department of Rural and Community Development

Dr. Stjohn O'Connor:

We have done that. As I stated, we pushed out nearly €700,000 this year in funding for BCPs. The vast majority of that money was to upgrade the buildings to do what the communities wanted them to do. Much of the need this year was for remote working but we think that will change as the programmes start to be rolled out next year. It is hoped that BCP site owners will see the opportunities for them and will decide that they wish to tie in with their local schools, for example by offering VEX robotics or Coder Dojo. They may decide that is what is really needed and put in a dedicated room to enable children to take part in Coder Dojo or to be used as an overflow classroom. Let us be very cautious about saying the facilities have to be X. They should be multifunctional spaces. We need to make them capable of providing multiple services.

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