Cork County Council Upgrades Remote Working Hubs in Bantry and Fermoy

People sitting at desks in an office

Caption: The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins visits Bantry E-Centre following the completion of upgrade works at the remote working facility which were funded by Cork County Council and the Connected Hubs Grant Scheme. Pictured in Bantry E-Centre is Mayor Collins with Paul Sutton and Bernie McCarthy, Cork County Council. Photo: Adrian Cronin

A group of people standing in front of a building

Caption: Pictured is Cllr Kay Dawson, Cllr Noel McCarthy, Mayor of County Cork Cllr Danny Collins, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, Cllr Deirdre O’Brien and Cllr William O’Leary at one of the units at Fermoy E-Centre to mark the upgrade of the Remote Working Facility funded by Cork County Council and the Connected Hubs Grant Scheme on 14th June 2023. Photo by Sean Jefferies Photography.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins visited both Bantry and Fermoy E-Centre Remote Working Hubs following their expansion and refurbishment.  These upgraded facilities offer a modern and comfortable working environment for remote workers thanks to grant funding received from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Connected Hubs grant scheme. 

Bantry E-Centre has been in operation for over 10 years offering hot-desking space, meeting/training rooms, third level study space, office and canteen facilities. As part of the refurbishment, the E-Centre has benefitted from energy and connectivity upgrades, including the installation of air-to-air heat pumps and heat recovery ventilation, upgraded LED lighting and installation of high speed 1GB broadband. Furthermore, the centre now features a newly created 3rd level remote study facility with seven desk spaces connected to the Eduroam system, enabling secure internet access for students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions.

Similarly, Fermoy E-Centre has been in operation for over a decade and has been enhanced to better meet the needs of the new remote working environment. The thriving centre, which previously offered 5 offices for rent, 11 hot-desks, a meeting / training room and canteen facilities, has been reconfigured to create an additional 15 desks which can be used as either hot-desks or offices. Refurbishment also included the installation of 1GB broadband as well as energy efficient panel heaters, a heat recovery ventilation system and upgraded LED lighting.

The upgrades allow for a more energy efficient systems, complete with the ability to manage the heating remotely, allowing for reduced energy usage and a more comfortable working environment for tenants.

On visiting the newly refurbished remote working facilities, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins stated, 

The upgraded Bantry and Fermoy E-Centre Remote Working Hubs reflect our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of our workforce. These facilities provide a vibrant and efficient space for remote workers and small businesses to collaborate, innovate, and thrive. We are grateful to the Department of Rural and Community Development for their grant funding, which has made these enhancements possible.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, emphasised the significance of the grant funding, saying,

The Connected Hubs grant scheme has been instrumental in enabling us to further improve our remote working facilities in Bantry and Fermoy. The upgraded E-Centres now offer state-of-the-art amenities, including high-speed broadband and modern energy-efficient systems, ensuring an enhanced experience for remote workers. Our network of remote working hubs are a testament to our commitment to fostering a dynamic and sustainable working environment in Cork County.

Remote workers can easily book hot-desking spaces through the Connected Hubs website, which facilitates access to remote working facilities throughout the country www.connectedhubs.ie.