Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
506 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which targets set in respect of the development of the digital hub have been achieved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4946/09]
View answerThe Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. The number of companies and employees based in the Hub has grown steadily and the demand for additional space for digital media companies continues to increase. There are now 870 employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 290 approximately contract employees are engaged on a regular basis by Hub companies. Approximately one in six digital media companies currently operating in Ireland is based in the Digital Hub. The work of these companies encompasses computer gaming, animation, on-line bookings, Internet security, website development, mobile technologies, broadcasting, design and Internet services. Such highly-skilled knowledge economy companies are key to maintaining and developing economic success.
The DHDA has been successful in developing and promoting the identity and brand of the Hub. Late last year, GOA Games Services, a subsidiary of France Telecom, which already employs 200 people in the Digital Hub, announced an expansion to 400 employees in the next 12 months. Gala Games, a Japanese employer also located in the Hub, recently announced 50 new jobs. Havok, an Irish world leader in computer graphics technologies, was recognised with an Emmy Award in the United States last year. It is also notable that two Digital Hub companies, Lincor and Zamano, took first and second place in the Deloitte Fast 50 rankings of Ireland's fastest growing enterprises.
The DHDA also has remits relating to education, community and urban regeneration. The DHDA delivers a very successful learning programme, which provides state-of-the-art digital media education to schools and the wider community in Dublin's south-west inner city, with a view to improving learning, employment and leisure opportunities for local residents. The programme is very successful with over 3,300 participants in 2008. To date, in excess of 10,000 individuals have participated in these programmes.
The growing demand for commercial property for digital media companies at the Digital Hub is further evidence of success. The DHDA has leased office space to meet the requirements of its tenant companies and has reached the point where all of its own available space has been occupied — approximately 80,000 square feet in State ownership by the DHDA or the OPW. A further 80,000 square feet is occupied by Digital Hub tenants under interim lease arrangements with third parties. An additional 20,000 square feet is likely to be delivered during 2009 under a proposal to redevelop another State owned building. In order to rationalise its property portfolio and continue to cater for expansion, the DHDA has entered into an agreement with two private developers for an additional 140,000 square feet of office space. Planning permission was granted for this last year.
