Sligo ranks as one of worst counties in terms of remote working attractiveness

The national telecommunications and entertainment provider has announced results of a survey, considering several factors like average rent costs, broadband speed, crime rates, air quality, number of restaurants and the number of primary schools available per pupil.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the number of people working from home in Ireland has increased from 19.89 per cent to 36.2 per cent, in the last four years.

With that in mind, Virgin Media commissioned research to rank the best counties in Ireland for working from home.

This is Sligo Newsletter

Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Sligo newsletter direct to your inbox.

This field is required

Sign Up

Please check your inbox to verify your details

Sligo, offering the breath-taking beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way, has been put at the second last position on the list.

It has a monthly rent cost of €1,090 and offers a broadband speed of 83.17 Mbps. The crime rate index in the county is 42.6 while the air quality index is the second worst in the country at 47.

For people who like to enjoy a good social life, Sligo has only 144 restaurants, pubs and cafes to choose from, alongside a selection of primary schools.

Kerry has topped the list with Clare, Laois, Roscommon and Donegal have been ranked as the five best counties to work from home in Ireland respectively.

Although the average rent prices in Kerry (€1,035) are higher than that in Donegal at €886 and Roscommon at €905, while the broadband speed in Clare, Laois and Roscommon are better than Kerry as well.

Laois has the highest broadband speed in the country at 249.79 Mbps, while Kerry has an average broadband speed of only 83.35 Mbps.

However, the higher crime rates in Laois bring it down on the list and the better availability of restaurants and pubs in Kerry brings it on top.

The bottom five counties on this list are Limerick, Sligo, Galway, Cork and Dublin respectively.

Even though Sligo offers the breath-taking beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way it’s higher rent cost at €1,090 and worst air quality at 47 along with smaller number of dining and entertainment choices available, it has become the second worst county for remote work.

With the worst being Limerick, Galway, Cork and Dublin has made to the list of 5 worst counties for remote work in Ireland.

Paul Higgins, VP Commercial at Virgin Media Ireland said: “The increase in numbers working from home gives people greater flexibility in their lives and a more favourable work-life balance.”