Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
89. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of hubs that have joined the connected hubs network and have been onboarded onto the connectedhubs.ie platform; her future plans for the development of additional hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3830/24]
View answerOur Rural Future recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025.
Substantial funding has been invested by my department in the development of remote working facilities through a variety of programmes. Successful projects are developed in collaboration with local authorities and communities with many vacant and derelict buildings converted into remote working hubs.
In 2021, I launched connectedhubs.ie, a shared online booking and payments platform for member hubs and their users. An interactive map shows the location and details of each remote working hub on the network. There are currently 342 facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform, with 10 located in Co Louth.
Following strong progress on the establishment of the Connected Hub Network and on achieving the initial critical mass, I am now focusing on the next stage of development of this network. My Department, together with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, is leading the development of a first National Hub Strategy in consultation with hub managers, local authorities, communities and other stakeholders. I intend to bring this strategy to Government this year.
The Strategy will inform the future direction of the National Hub Network a and ensure the strategic development and sustainability of Ireland’s Hub Infrastructure.
I am committed to ensuring that the National Hub Network will continue to make a central contribution to the achievement of the Government's vision for rural Ireland, as set out in Our Rural Future.
