Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
88. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the delivery of remote working hubs; the progress of the development of a national hubs network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60214/21]
View answerOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
In May I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 170 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week. (Table 1 attached provides a breakdown by County).
TABLE 1 – Connectedhubs.ie - Remote Working Hubs by County (as at 26 November 2021)
|
County |
Live on the connectedhubs.ie platform |
Mapped to be invited to join the connectedhubs.ie platform |
|
Carlow |
4 |
3 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
6 |
|
Clare |
10 |
7 |
|
Cork |
13 |
18 |
|
Donegal |
11 |
11 |
|
Dublin |
27 |
38 |
|
Galway |
16 |
27 |
|
Kerry |
13 |
13 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
5 |
|
Laois |
4 |
5 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
14 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
11 |
|
Longford |
2 |
3 |
|
Louth |
3 |
7 |
|
Mayo |
11 |
21 |
|
Meath |
0 |
12 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
3 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
10 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
14 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
21 |
|
Waterford |
4 |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
8 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
170 |
294 |
The National Hub Network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating clients of different types with varying requirements.
To date our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connectedhubs.ie platform - the focus will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and hub users. Work is also ongoing to consult with hub managers across the country in developing the future strategic direction of the National Hub Network.
A significant number of initiatives will be developed through the Network including: supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and large scale employers; supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and Government agencies; and supporting collaborative projects in the Network to drive economies of scale.
My Department also supports the development of remote working facilities and hubs via a number of funding streams. To date, over €83m in funding has been provided in this regard through schemes such as the Rural Regeneration Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
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 a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
