Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1586. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the programmes available in her Department to facilitate the development of locally based innovation centres, for example, similar to the gteic model in Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33016/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last number of years, my Department has funded the development of enterprise centres and co-working hubs through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, including funding for gTeic hubs in the Gaeltacht areas. The LEADER programme can also provide funding for community-based facilities of this nature.
In addition, the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative and the Atlantic Economic Corridor Hub Network are expressly supporting this type of development.
The BCP initiative will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 300 publicly accessible sites across the State. These sites will be located in rural and remote areas, including the Gaeltacht and many of our off-shore islands.
Many BCPs may be in a position to provide remote working facilities, eHealth facilities, education, training and upskilling, as well as supporting the cultural and social life of the communities in which they are located.
Separately, the Western Development Commission (WDC) has mapped over 100 remote working hubs within the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) region, 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 WDC recently developed a classification model for hubs which codifies them based on criteria such as their service offering, clientele and mission. This classification model will allow the further development of quality standards and developmental pathways for hubs in the ecosystem.
An additional €5 million has been allocated to my Department in Budget 2021 to support the development of this national hubs network, as well as to upgrade existing facilities throughout the country.
