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Rural hubs for remote workers... €60 per week to use!

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2

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    #32
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675346#Comment_118675346

    Ok, that's more of an issue then. My company have been the opposite, very supportive in general, including financially.



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    #33
    listermint
    Registered Users Posts: 33,640 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Did the OP just say 2 euro per day would be fair price.


    Ffs........



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    #34
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675346#Comment_118675346

    Pretty sure anyone in software would happily pay this and more for such a service. The cost of living in Dublin or even commuting versus 60 a week or more. I probably won't be using it but plenty of reasonable employers would probably be fine with covering at least a portion of it tbh.



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    #35
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,057 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675377#Comment_118675377

    Like a library. And this is broadly the type of service libraries are moving towards anyway. There's even already some rural libraries, with a certain amount of funded workforce and facilities in place.

    This would have been so easy to get right and make a real difference.



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    #36
    HBC08
    Registered Users Posts: 3,287 ✭✭✭HBC08


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675377#Comment_118675377

    We the tax payers have shelled out for the initial cost.A sizeable chunk of said tax payers like me will never use the hubs so would prefer to not subsidise them forever for everybody who might use them.People using them might be asked to pay a reasonable small amount for that service.That seems fair enough to me.

    I think they're a great idea and will be very popular as I said I won't have reason to use them in my current job but nice to know to option is there.



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    #37
    road_high
    Registered Users Posts: 19,388 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675205#Comment_118675205

    But that’s pretty unlikely. Part of the big carrot for companies accommodating WFH in the first place is the massive cost savings for them vs the cost of offices. They’re not likely to want more overheads and I couldn’t see the company I work for paying for it



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    #38
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,057 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675410#Comment_118675410

    I'm in software thanks, but I'm saving for a house and have dependents.

    Also the cost of commuting doesn't disappear, but I think would reduce considerably.



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    #39
    Doasisaynotwhatido
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭Doasisaynotwhatido


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675416#Comment_118675416

    100%.

    How is someone working in a call centre on 25,000k going to be able to afford about 2500k a year



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    #40
    Doasisaynotwhatido
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭Doasisaynotwhatido


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675425#Comment_118675425

    I pay taxes for rail services but there's no railway station within 100km of me. Thats tax for you



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    #41
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Utterly soulless.



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    #42
    HBC08
    Registered Users Posts: 3,287 ✭✭✭HBC08


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675433#Comment_118675433

    Jesus christ,I really think I'm going to leave boards for a while.

    To use your own train analogy,you are suggesting that after the initial infrastructure of setting up the railways then all tickets are free.



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    #43
    Doasisaynotwhatido
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭Doasisaynotwhatido


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675466#Comment_118675466

    Apart from the Luas no it wouldn't he free



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    #44
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,057 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675466#Comment_118675466

    I'm ok with mental health services being free and I hope to never use them. A public service doesn't mean all the public has to use it all the time.

    If this reduces our carbon use and reinvigorates rural communities (we already put a lot of public funds towards rural/community development and services) I'm all for it.



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    #45
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 23,924 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675523#Comment_118675523

    You do realize that these aren't just rural but all over Ireland don't you? There's a load of them in Dublin for example



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    #46
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,057 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675583#Comment_118675583

    Great, but I don't think the public benefits are quite as strong in Dublin.

    From the original article.. "According to Ms Humphreys, the hubs are aimed at improving quality of life in less urban areas."

    This really has been pushed as a major government target, I think primarily to reduce carbon footprint, combat rural disadvantage and isolation, and take pressure off Dublin.

    What's presented now might be useful to some people in some scenarios, but I think that unless it's attractive enough to entice enough people and public opinion to remote working, it's just a waste of public money and government effort.

    A huge wasted opportunity and terrible indictment of this governments competence imho.



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    #47
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674165#Comment_118674165

    "pack of smokes"? Please use a metric which the majority of the population can relate to. Most people have either never smoked or smoked a long time ago.



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    #48
    Feisar
    Registered Users Posts: 6,606 ✭✭✭Feisar


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674165#Comment_118674165

    Pack of cigs - €15x5x48=€2,880. Plus that's off yer net income so that's more like €4K of yer gross spent on hubs.

    First they came for the socialists...



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    #49
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,688 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675141#Comment_118675141


    So they may put existing space-providers out of business. A great use of government funding!



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    #50
    elperello
    Registered Users Posts: 14,289 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    Presumably the charge would be tax deductible perhaps making the cost more attractive.



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    #51
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users Posts: 18,180 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675762#Comment_118675762

    Call it what every you like. The price of a dinner, three pints, a fifty a week.

    At the end of the days it's a price point. Set it at 2-3 euro a day and you will have people that have other choices using it. They probably do not want people using it full-time unless they really need to.

    If you have a mobile home in Kerry or Clare, it gives an option to lengthen the holidays by a few days either end. Would you pay a hundred euro to stay down there an extra 7-10days.

    A lot of companies will pick up a limited amount of the cost. If you employ 50 people in an office in Dublin and at present have to have desks for them all. In 10 years could have 8-10 hot desks, 4-6 permanent ones and a meeting room. It will probably be 1/3 of its present footprint. You could be paying 2-300/sq M for office space. Add in saving in electricity, heating and other costs there is significant business costs saving for businesses.

    Paying for 1-2 days a week for most employees or full-time for one or two still leaves significant savings

    Slava Ukrainii



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    #52
    Brucie Bonus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,189 ✭✭✭Brucie Bonus


    So.... the company sorting out broadband for the rural areas is also setting up hubs for people...who have a problem getting broadband in rural areas?

    Shrewd man Dinny. Paid for supplying it and paid if slow providing it.

    The government are looking to buy the Brooklyn Bridge, but only if Dinny is selling.



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    #53
    Topdolla
    Registered Users Posts: 129 ✭✭Topdolla


    Free would be good I read this article yesterday and downloaded the app.

    I thought it was going to be free what a farce.

    https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/remote-workers-can-now-book-26289597




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    #54
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Would there be many people using hubs 5 days a week though?

    I would see hubs more for those who are doing blended working patterns, who might commute to an office in a city somewhere once or twice a month, work from home 2 / 3 days a week, and might use a hub the odd time when they needed too.

    I would never have thought of hubs as a five day a week thing. What would you do if it was fully booked up before you booked your slot?

    FWIW I think €12.50 is a reasonable daily rate. Probably become cheaper if block booked.



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    #55
    markodaly
    Registered Users Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭markodaly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118675377#Comment_118675377

    Like the OP, we all want freebies in this country.

    Remember water charges?

    Its amazing the amount of people who think because they pay a bit of tax or excise duty on a pint who thinks they are entitled to free living on the taxpayers.

    12.50 a day is cheap. Saying it should be 2 euro a day is laughable tbh. That is a price of a coffee.



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    #56
    markodaly
    Registered Users Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭markodaly


    And tea and coffee....

    Some people are just so entitled.



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    #57
    joseywhales
    Registered Users Posts: 4,009 ✭✭✭joseywhales


    I went to a place like this for 6 months but then I realized that I had food at home and it was nicer and private and closer to my bed, so I could wake up 5 minutes before work. I never went back. Also libraries could work too, particularly large modern libraries sometimes have private rooms you can book for meetings etc.



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    #58
    wandererz
    Registered Users Posts: 2,527 ✭✭✭wandererz


    Complaining about €12.50 per day? You don't realise when you've got it good.

    In my area of Dublin it is (depending on how you prefer to book it):

    • €307.50 / month
    • €24.60 / day
    • €105.55 per 5 days (Mon-Fri)

    Those prices are including VAT. So for the monthly rate, based on 20 days per month, it works out to €15/day.

    That's not bad considering it's only 8mins & 5.1KM away.

    I also don't have the added expenses of fuel, toll roads, time wastage, rail costs etc.

    If i'm tired & want to take a nap, i just go home for an hour.

    It also provides a bit of a distraction from the monotony of working 100% from home. It brings structure to ones working week as well and it allows for socialisation with other people in other areas.

    Have a look at Regus hot desking costs. Their prices are crazy. And then there's the cost of parking as well on top of that.


    €105M investment amongst circa 5M population is €21 per person. That's 5 pints on a night out in the rural pub or just about 3 in Temple Bar. A pittance.

    My only gripe about the Connected Hubs scheme is that there is a VAT element to it. It should be VAT free.


    EDIT: I just expanded my search area and found another one which is 19mins & 13.6KM away instead.

    That's €120 incl VAT for a MONTH! or €30 per week.

    That works out to €6/day based on 20days used in a month (5x4).

    That's one Dublin pint per day.

    Probably not as well kitted out as the other, but if it does the job...

    Post edited by wandererz on


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    #59
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,057 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118676016#Comment_118676016

    Thanks for this, rather than accuse me of being mean or entitled, this really helps show what I mean.

    If this is being sold as a public policy which will be transformative ie get a lot of people away from commuting, or the waste of heating individual home offices, push growth back to rural areas etc. Then it needs to be at a price point where a lot of people will use it.

    Bear in mind too we're in a country that doesn't really have much of a public transport system outside Dublin.



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    #60
    El Tarangu
    Registered Users Posts: 1,615 ✭✭✭El Tarangu


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118676838#Comment_118676838

    A lot of people seem to think that the price point is a reasonable one.

    To what extent do you think it is reasonable that taxpayers should subsidise the working arrangements of the software company that you work for?



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    #61
    Danzy
    Registered Users Posts: 13,271 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674142#Comment_118674142

    It's cheap all considered for other savings.


    Nevermind the business networking, getting the accountant on that desk to help you, in return for helping on his website, etc etc. Just even being given a name or suggestion when you have a problem. That's worth much more than 12.50 a Day.


    Hiding away in your office under the stairs isn't an option when you are self employed.


    For the considerable amount of people who already use them, it's a proven resource and they cannot meet demand.



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