Money can now be made in Ireland for buying and renovating a house on one of the 23 remote islands on the west coast. With the financial subsidy of up to 84,000 euros, the number of inhabitants should increase again.
This has fallen by 13 percent since 1996. In addition, one fifth of the population on the islands between Cork and Donegal is over 65 years old. Nationally, that is only 12 percent. The reasons for the population decline are a lack of jobs and poor infrastructure such as few doctors, hardly any shopping and leisure facilities. Now the government is counting on many people to be able to work anywhere thanks to the home office.
To ensure access to medical care, new technologies such as robot dogs and drones are now being tested. Some islands have no bridges or are cut off at high tide. A condition for state aid is that the house was built before 1993 and has been empty or dilapidated for at least two years. The government said it was not a relocation bonus.
New jobs?
Some islanders were already skeptical. The money is not enough to renovate a dilapidated house. However, many welcome the project as they hope for new jobs and an end to the housing shortage.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
