KCC to apply for funding to turn Kildare into a 'smart county' with WiFi hotspots

Kildare County Council will look into making Kildare a 'smart county' through government funding.

The council confirmed at a meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District that they would be seeking information from the Department of Transport on the application process for the WiFi4EU initiative, which provides funding towards installing WiFi hotspots in towns and villages around Ireland.

Cllr Mark Lynch had asked the council if they could prepare applications for the process to draw down funding for Kildare Town and Newbridgem along with bringing free public wi-fi hotspots to the villages and towns of Athgarvan, Allenwood, Rathangan, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Suncroft and Milltown.

The council responded;

"The application system for WiFi4EU will be overseen by the Department of Communications, and Kildare County Council is awaiting information on the terms and conditions, and direction on how to proceed, on the application process. The council will shortly commence the preparation of a digital strategy to identify opportunities for all sectors of the community in all towns and villages with the objective of moving towards a sustainable ‘smart’ county."