Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Flexible Work Practices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (57, 74)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

57. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of hubs identified by her Department as part of the mapping exercise for the Connected Hubs Programme; and the steps taken to encourage hubs to join the programme. [60016/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ciaran Cannon

Ceist:

74. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the support provided under the connected hubs facility to encourage hubs and such facilities currently outside the network to join. [60196/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 74 together.

Our Rural Future commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of 400 remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. The National Hub Network Working Group led by my Department has so far identified and mapped over 460 remote working hubs across the country, 170 of which are live on the Connected Hubs platform, with this number growing every week. All hubs that have been mapped are invited to join the Network.

The Connected Hubs platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. It will also facilitate the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. These supports will serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy.

To date, our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connecthubs.ie platform, but this will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs, business owners and hub users.

My Department continues to work with the Western Development Commission and other key stakeholders to further develop the connectedhubs.ie platform. We are engaging with hub managers across the country on an ongoing basis via one to one engagements and workshops. The outputs of this engagement will contribute to the future strategic direction of the Connected Hubs network.

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 development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.

Barr
Roinn