Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
817. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which the €5 million in the budget for town and village hubs will be deployed to assist 2020 students participate in third level education remotely. [31771/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ecosystem of hubs and other facilities throughout the country offering hot-desk facilities are a significant support to both remote workers and students at the present time.
These facilities cover the spectrum from fully commercially-operating business models, to public sector and social enterprise hubs.
The Western Development Commission (WDC) has mapped over 100 remote working hubs within the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) region alone, covering the area from Co. Kerry to Co. Donegal. The WDC's objective is to develop these hubs into a cohesive network of facilities in the AEC region for remote workers, students and for community use. The AEC hub network will include a common booking engine for clients, and collaboration tools to facilitate cross-network engagement between both managers and clients in the hubs.
In addition, more than 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be connected in remote rural areas across the country over the coming months to provide public access to free high speed broadband services. These BCPs will also provide capacity for remote working and students in rural areas. More than 50 BCPs are already operational.
My Department has invested significantly in remote working facilities over the last number of years through programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Libraries programme.
The additional €5 million allocated to my Department in Budget 2021 will be used to build on the AEC hub network model and support the development of a national network of remote working hubs, as well as upgrading existing facilities throughout the country. An Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, has been convened to progress this project.
