Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
694. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated under the Connected Hubs Fund by county in tabular form; the number of applicants that received funding; the estimated completion or progress to date on each project that was successful in securing funding in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55991/21]
View answerOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and also the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages.
My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs, including the development of BCPs as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.
In July this year, through the Connected Hubs funding stream, I awarded close to €9 million in funding to over 100 successful applicants, details of which are available on the Department's website. This funding supports the addition of capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and broadband connection points throughout the country. Table 1 in the attached file provides the Connected Hubs funding allocations by county, including the number of successful applications. Currently, some 75% of successful applications have indicated to my Department that they are scheduled to complete before year end, with 18% of projects projected to finish in quarter 1 2022. A small number of projects have been unable to proceed. My Department continues to engage with individual projects in relation to their expected completion dates to account for any possible changes to the timelines indicated to my Department.
The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
Appendix 1
Table 1 – Connected Hubs 2021 Funding Allocation By County
|
County |
Successful Applications |
Allocation |
|
Carlow |
1 |
103,320 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
236,016 |
|
Clare |
1 |
209,700 |
|
Cork |
8 |
425,456 |
|
Donegal |
7 |
551,324 |
|
Dublin |
18 |
670,676 |
|
Galway |
9 |
654,211 |
|
Kerry |
12 |
746,091 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
263,573 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
235,438 |
|
Laois |
5 |
199,686 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
323,368 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
404,688 |
|
Longford |
1 |
234,678 |
|
Louth |
3 |
129,208 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
337,142 |
|
Meath |
1 |
222,354 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
354,925 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
287,282 |
|
Roscommon |
3 |
327,445 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
213,797 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
426,110 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
240,890 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
139,215 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
319,029 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
132,600 |
|
Multiple Counties |
3 |
515,981 |
|
TOTAL |
118 |
8,904,203 |
