Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 March 2022
242. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the additional development activities connected to broadband connection points namely the pilot projects trialling new activities and services; the details of pilot projects; the locations of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11927/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) provide supports for the whole community, remote workers, students, local community groups and schools. They can offer suites of digital skills training courses, arts and culture activities including musical instruction and access to national cultural resources and a range of eHealth and telemedicine programmes.
My Department in partnership with a number of BCP committees and local authority Broadband Officers began trialing new activities and services in the BCPs in 2021. These trials serve two purposes: to establish what may work well at BCPs and to encourage those managing BCPs to develop innovative uses for the high-speed connectivity that has been provided.
Trial projects may be available to all operational BCPs, or may be limited to certain selected sites. Where there is a limit to the number of sites that may take part in a trial, these sites are selected on a first come, first served basis, or on the basis of a needs and suitability assessment. The intention is that on foot of these pilot projects successful projects can be made available to all BCPs nationwide.
There are currently 18 pilot projects live under the following four headings:
eHealth - dedicated e-health rooms, planned or operational, in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo and Monaghan, including Tory and Clare islands.
These eHealth facilities will complement the ‘HSE Attend Anywhere’ initiative and be suitable for a range of virtual consultations with consultants and other medical professionals in major hospitals without the need for long distance travel.
Training & Education – Digital Skills Training is provided for free by a number of partners including Microsoft, Kinia, CoderDojo and OurKidsCode.
These training programmes are aimed at senior citizens, primary and secondary school age children, and adults with an interest in updating their digital skills. The courses are intended to promote basic digital literacy, upskilling and engagement with STEM subjects during childhood.
Several of these trials have already begun and are showing great potential. The full range of digital skills programmes are scheduled for roll out from the second quarter of 2022.
Arts & Culture – there are currently four significant projects underway in 2022:
- The IFI Oscars Collection of short films due to launch exclusively to all BCPs on the 24th March (TBC). This Collection has been curated and will be delivered by the Irish Film Institute.
- Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) is offering free Uilleann Pipes classes for all ages. Participants are invited to “Try the pipes” before committing to a course of instruction. Classes are delivered online from BCPs. NPU also has a loan program for those unable to afford to buy pipes.
- Access Cinema Film Clubs - to set up film clubs on 5 remote island locations providing support for 1 film screening per month for 5 months and provide ongoing support to the film club. The sites chosen are Clare Island (Mayo), Achill Island (Mayo), Valentia Island (Kerry), Bere Island (Cork) and either Lettermullen Island or Inis Oirr (Galway).
- RESILIENCE Music Event arranged and recorded by Meath Co Co available exclusively to all BCPs nationwide.
Remote Working – training for hub managers is being provided by the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen. To support remote workers, Grow Remote will provide training and mentoring to groups so that they can establish Grow Remote chapters in their area. These chapters provide a network of peers and access to the national body which advocates for and provides advice to remote workers in Ireland. Grow Remote, the Ludgate Hub and officials at my department are providing ongoing support to many BCPs as they develop working facilities and services. Support is also provided via the Connected Hubs platform, of which several BCs are members.
There is no charge to the BCPs or the public for participation in any of the trial activities. Furthermore, grants of €1,000 are available from my department for devices and equipment to support training and education activities and €10,000 has been made available to each local authority to procure additional activities or training, either under the headings above or under another heading as proposed by the Broadband Officer.
In addition to the above, BCPs were beneficiaries of the 2021 Connected Hubs fund under which almost €9M was made available to hub and BCPs to increase remote work capacity. I have also recently announced the 2022 Connected Hubs funding call. Once again, BCPs are eligible to apply for funding up to €75,000 and I would encourage all BCPs to consider making an application. I have made €5M available for the 2022 fund.
Details of events at BCPs can be found at myconnectedcommunity.ie/events/. This function on the BCP network’s website will be kept updated over the coming months with additional details as new events are added.
