Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
15. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the development of town and village hubs and broadband connection points announced in the budget, including the timelines for roll-outs and the means by which areas will be prioritised. [34169/20]
View answerSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working has proven its value in maintaining economic activity and in the provision of many public services.
Building on the experience of the last few months, I believe that a structured approach to the provision of remote working facilities can be transformational for rural Ireland. Remote working can help to retain talented people in rural communities, encourage mobile talent to move to the regions, provide increased trade for local businesses, and revitalise our rural towns.
My Department has been working with the Western Development Commission to develop an integrated network of remote working hubs along the Atlantic Economic Corridor, from Kerry to Donegal. The WDC has identified and mapped more than 120 remote working hubs which serve that region. The approach to building this network, with shared back-office services, will serve as a model which can be replicated in other parts of the country.
In addition, 200 Broadband Connection Points will be connected before the end of this year, which will provide communities with free high-speed internet access. Up to 100 more BCPs will be connected in 2021. Many BCPs have the potential to provide remote working facilities in some of our most remote rural communities.
An additional €5 million was allocated under Budget 2021 for investment in digital hubs through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Over the last number of years this scheme has supported investment in remote working hubs and BCPs in town centres through applications made by the Local Authorities.
The additional funding for 2021 will be used to develop a national network of remote working hubs based on the AEC model, as well as upgrading existing facilities and BCPs throughout the country. An Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, has been established to progress this project and agree a work programme to ensure that the additional funding is fully utilised in 2021.
