Tag Archives: remote working

RESEARCH involving two Clare natives has provided further insight into how remote working can support balanced regional development and revitalise rural communities.  Among the findings of the third annual National Remote Working Survey is the fact that this county ranks inside the top ten locations for workers who have relocated since the pandemic. Clare was the seventh most popular destination for those relocating. The potential offered by remote working had prompted 4.4% of those relocating to opt for County Clare. Of the survey respondents still considering moving, Clare was the tenth most popular choice.  The study was led by Labasheeda native, Professor Alma McCarthy and Noreen O’Connor at NUI Galway; as well as Quin’s Tomás Ó Síocháin and Deirdre Frost at the Western Development Commission (WDC). The survey gathered responses from more than 8,400 employees, in late April and early May, on their current experience of remote working. While more than half of respondents (58%) had never worked remotely before the …

REMOTE working for those living in the county town has taken a major step forward with the opening of the Ennis Digital Hub. The state-of-the-art facility at the Quin Road Business Park was officially opened by Minister Heather Humphries at the end of last month and brings to ten the number of hubs operating under Clare County Council’s Digiclare initiative. Among those welcoming the centre was Councillor Johnny Flynn who said the hub was a long-time goal for the county town. “Six years ago, I tabled a notice of motion requesting a feasibility study be carried out on the development of a hub for Ennis,” he outlined. “I believe the facility will be critical in enabling people living in the area to enable employment. The Ennis hub is the tenth in the county, so the people of the county town have been waiting patiently as the rural centres were developed first. The potential of the hub is huge in enabling …

REMOTE working from Clare has just gotten easier with the launch today of Ireland’s Connected Hubs Network, the first national network of remote working hubs. Some 66 hubs nationwide are on board and accessible to remote workers via ConnectedHubs.ie; while this number is set to rise to over 100 by the end of this year. The launch was welcomed by Clare TD Cathal Crowe who cited his own experience of working from locations as diverse as the train, the car, his home and office, as being increasingly typical. “Today’s announcement is a significant one for a county like Clare,” said Deputy Crowe. The stage is set 📽️ At 12.30pm today we will officially launch https://t.co/Ot9beiKYI8 Join our MC for the day, broadcaster and entrepreneur @bobbykerr , Minister @HHumphreysFG and others. Register to watch 👉https://t.co/SGhM7cLJbK#OurRuralFuture #TransformYourWorkday pic.twitter.com/E1fbA40UYg — ConnectedHubs.ie (@connectedhubs) May 31, 2021 “More and more people are eager to put down roots at home and enjoy family time, enjoy country …

WITH remote working having changed the property market, the coastal area around Lahinch is seeing a property boom despite the pandemic, with a huge increase in the number of people looking to move to the North Clare area. While it is very good news for those trying to sell property in the area, the strength of the market is seeing landlords sell up, and with a deficit in the stock of property for long-term rental, some people are being forced to leave the area entirely. One local property went on sale for €295,000 recently, but ended up selling for €420,000, illustrating how strong the local market is right now. Ennistymon auctioneer Peri Griffin said that the current market is reminiscent of the Celtic Tiger years. “At the moment supply is low and demand is high. We don’t have a house for everyone, we could have 20 or 30 people after one house and that’s driving prices through the roof.” She …

DEMAND for property in coastal Clare continues to increase, to the point where the working from home phenomenon has been likened by a local businessman and public representative to a revolution. The potential for remote working created by digital technologies, and introduced out of necessity during the pandemic, is proving to be a game-changer for rural communities which up to last year had been facing the prospect of accelerating depopulation. Now, demand from city dwellers looking to relocate, as well as holiday home owners who have switched their primary residence has boosted the population of coastal communities. A property price survey conducted by The Sunday Times showed that while the median house price in Clare is down from €194,500 to €191,000, coastal property prices continue to rise. Demand for property in Kilkee and Lahinch was aid to be “insatiable” with a three-bedroom semi-detached home in the latter recently selling for €274,000, after multiple bids. “We are at a transition point,” …

REMOTE access to meetings of Clare County Council may continue into the future, members were told, after a number of them joined the November meeting via Zoom. Standing Orders were amended to give effect to a Ministerial Order drawn up in response to Level 5 restrictions, meaning that councillors can attend meetings virtually, as necessary. “This is a historic occasion,” said the council’s Chief Executive Pat Dowling, as members including Councillors Donna McGettigan, Ian Lynch, Pat Hayes and Tony O’Brien connected by video link. Mr Dowling noted that a national template had issued to all councils and he thanked meetings coordinator Ann Reynolds for her work in facilitating the new arrangements. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy questioned whether the arrangement was limited by time, to which Mr Dowling replied that it would be kept under review. “A number of local authorities, like those in Dublin, had been offering remote access even before Covid-19,” he noted. “It is at the discretion of …

FLIRTED with by many companies employing office workers for years, remote working has suddenly been fully embraced by most companies. Clarecastle-based Paul Ellingstad is involved in the Grow Remote organisation, which promotes the benefits of remote working. The speed at which the concept has caught on since March is something no-one, including Paul, saw coming. “This is total disruption. We launched the Limerick chapter of the Grow Remote group back on February 4. Even a month later, it was like night and day. It came in so quickly. Employers were saying ‘all our workforce is working from home if they can’. It really was a shock to the system.” Grow Remote was established in 2018 and from a humble start, has spread across the country and abroad. “It started as 20 people informally in a WhatsApp group that were interested in trying to get more people aware of the benefits of working remotely, not only individual employees but for employers …