Digital Hubs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022

Thursday, 17 February 2022

Questions (25, 344, 345, 346)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

25. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage the establishment of digital hubs in urban and rural areas throughout the country that are deficient in investment in jobs whereby the use of such hubs might be used as a means of promoting rural and community development and reducing the number of commutes to employment by the setting up virtual office accommodation with the necessary technology to enable companies and their employees to work from such locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8718/22]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

344. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she proposes to continue to assist the development of digital hubs with a view to replicating a workplace situation in respect of both employment and social activity thereby addressing issues of congestion in existing heavily populated areas and addressing depopulation issues throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8990/22]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department continues to assist in the creation of digital hubs in order to recreate work-place activity in a meaningful way throughout both urban and rural settings ensuring that activity in the workplace does not suffer and that a high level of social activity and interaction associated with the workplace can continue even relatively isolated areas in towns throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8991/22]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department can plan to replicate a workplace environment in all areas throughout the country subject to availability of modern technology such as broadband; her future plans for development in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8992/22]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 344 to 346, inclusive, together.

Our 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 last year I launched the National Connected Hubs network - connectedhubs.ie. There are currently 189 hubs live on the platform with this number rising on an ongoing basis.  The network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating companies of different sizes. The platform offers booking and hub management applications to network members. 

To date, approximately €100m has been provided by my Department through various funding streams to support the development of digital hubs and remote working facilities across Ireland. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of digital hubs. Under last year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible for funding. The repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible application themes.

Last year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to more than 100 successful applicants across the country. The Connected Hubs call was open to all hubs irrespective of where they were in the country. In making decisions around the allocation of funds, the Department took into account the number of applications from urban and rural locations. This allowed for additional capacity to be added to digital hubs and broadband connection points  throughout the country. A list of successful applicants is available on my Department's website. 

To date our focus has been to develop this critical mass - the focus will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and new hub users.

Consultations are ongoing with hub managers across the country in developing the future strategic direction of the National Hub Network. With  a Connected Hubs marketing campaign currently in the final stages of development and  coinciding with the return to the office, it is expected that these events will have a positive effect on the uptake of remote working from hub facilities.

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 ongoing 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.