£10M funding boost to improve digital connectivity in rural areas
More than £10 million of funding has been awarded to transform underused buildings into digital hubs and improve cyber skills in rural areas across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
Three projects have been successful in securing the Peaceplus investment which will support thousands of residents, businesses and voluntary organisations, with initiatives designed to close the ICT gap in rural areas, foster economic growth and influence policy.
Peaceplus is a 1.14 billion euro (£950 million) programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The successful projects include Mini Digi Hubs which plans to revitalise the east border region by transforming five underused public buildings into digital hubs and creating a mobile digital lab.
Project partners include Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT), Monaghan County Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Meath County Council, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Also receiving funding is the Smart Rural Innovation Driven Empowerment programme which aims to deliver solutions in supporting rural communities to use ICT.
The project will be led by South West College, working in partnership with Ulster University, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Atlantic Technological University Sligo and Leitrim County Enterprise Fund as well as Alacrity.
The third project to receive funding is DS3 will aim to close the ICT skills gap in rural communities across seven council areas.
Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said: "Collaboration and cross-border working are key to supporting rural communities where people want to live, work and be active in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
"Connectivity is an essential requirement to achieve this desired outcome, and therefore the creation of Smart Towns and Villages presents an exciting opportunity to increase access to and awareness of telecommunications."
Irish Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said: "I am delighted that a further 13 million euro in funding is approved for projects under the Peaceplus programme.
"These projects will be supported under the Smart Towns and Villages Investment Area and will promote the socio-economic inclusion of marginalised and disadvantaged individuals and communities, while also supporting the repopulation and economic development of rural towns and villages.
SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: "Peaceplus will support the creation of jointly developed solutions for Smart Towns and Villages, to incorporate digital hubs, which will enable remote working and ICT-themed social innovation approaches to developing new models of delivery for key services, including health and education.
"This will provide greater access to and awareness of telecommunications, with an area-based approach taken to enable communities to maximise technology to improve social and economic conditions in their areas."
Peaceplus is co-funded by the European Union, the UK and Irish governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.