Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle calls on Government for remote working supports, including high-speed broadband

Pringle calls on Government for remote working supports, including high-speed broadband

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has called on Government to better support remote working, including providing more digital hubs and prioritising provision of high-speed fibre broadband, noting that some Donegal communities may be waiting until 2026 for the service.

Deputy Pringle said: “Remote working has the potential to have a very positive impact on our society, however this can only be the case if high speed broadband is prioritised and provided to everyone. For many in Dublin and across the country, access to fibre broadband might seem like a given and an issue that was resolved long ago. Sadly, however, this isn’t the case.

“There are places in Killybegs that have an anticipated date for connection to high-speed fibre broadband of December 2026. This is completely unacceptable and it is unfair that there are some in this country who are still waiting for access to high-speed broadband and will be waiting for a further two years at least,” he said.

The deputy said: “According to the 2022 Census, 32% of people in Ireland work from home for at least some part of their week, including 15,300 people in Donegal. When considering business support packages, I think it is important that we also consider supporting businesses to offer the option of remote working and support the transition to remote working as well.

“There are companies with jobs that exist only online and these need to be targeted, too.

“Remote working has the ability to improve access to work for those who face obstacles in taking up employment, such as people with disabilities, those with long-term health conditions and those from rural communities. I know that remote working has significantly improved the lives of many in the west of Ireland.

“Remote working has allowed many of my constituents in Donegal to take up employment in companies that are based in the capital and further afield, giving them access they didn’t previously have to different types of employment and giving many people the freedom to return to Donegal to live and work,” he said.

The deputy raised the issue in the Dáil recently, during Statements on Business Support Package.

Deputy Pringle said: “I’ve met with Grow Remote, who work to improve and expand remote working in Donegal and across the country and whose aim was to make remote working accessible for everyone. They outlined the importance of digital hubs, such as in Árainn Mhór, in providing necessary facilities, high-speed internet and the opportunity for workers to engage socially in an office environment while working remotely.

“Bizarrely, remote working is not promoted by the state employment agencies, Enterprise Ireland or the IDA. Grow Remote are a voluntary body and are happy to develop this aspect of employment and should be supported by the state in doing so.

“There are currently 14 digital hubs across the county of Donegal and I am delighted that there will be one opening in Island House in Killybegs, hopefully in the next few months when works in the town are complete. This would allow more people to come to and come back to Killybegs, which would be great for the town and for the community and for small businesses in terms of making them more sustainable.

“I would urge the government and councils to expand this even further and to provide more digital hubs across the county,” he said.