Alan Dillon
Question:76. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the roll-out of remote working hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41418/23]
View answerTuesday, 26 September 2023
Questions (76)
Written answers
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing an integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. I am pleased to say that we are well on our way to meeting this commitment. The connected hubs platform was launched in 2021 and there are now 324 hubs on-boarded to the connectedhubs.ie with this number growing all the time.
Over €150m has been invested by my department in the development of remote working facilities through programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and the Connected Hubs Call. Successful projects are developed in collaboration with local authorities and communities with many projects seeing vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages converted into remote working hubs.
To date my focus has been on establishing the Connected Hub Network and on achieving the initial critical mass. Following strong progress on the establishment phase of the project, my focus has, for some time, shifted to the next stage of development. To this end my Department is currently leading on the formulation of a National Hub Strategy to chart the future strategic direction of the hub sector.
I am committed to ensuring that these vital investments in Ireland's hub infrastructure can continue to underpin delivery of the objectives of Our Rural Future.
Question No. 77 answered orally.