Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
985. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered establishing co-working spaces in rural areas of counties Kildare and Laois to facilitate persons working remotely within their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5453/21]
View answerMy Department has invested significantly in co-working spaces and enterprise hubs over the last number of years though programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Investments approved include a digital hub in Mountmellick and an enterprise hub in Mountrath, Co, Laois. A Food hub is also being supported in Athy, Co. Kildare.
My Department, along with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has also invested in the establishment of a network of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) throughout the country. BCPs are amongst the first deliverables under the National Broadband Plan in the State intervention area and will provide free public access to high-speed wifi broadband in some of the most remote parts of the country.
Included in the BCP network are a number of sites in Kildare and Laois with plans to provide for remote working, co-working and community use. Full details of the location of all of the BCPs, both installed and planned, are available at https://nbi.ie/bcp-map/.
I have secured an additional €5 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year for the further development of remote working facilities in hubs and BCPs. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this scheme shortly.
