Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 September 2022
117. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that she is providing to ensure that access to connected hubs is available to all; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44788/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy, was published in March 2021. The policy 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.
Accordingly, last year I launched the National Hub Network together with its online booking platform, connectedhubs.ie. It is a single network that provides users with information on the location of, and facilities available at, remote working hubs throughout Ireland.
There are currently 281 enterprise and co-working facilities across the country on-boarded to the connectedhubs.ie platform. This number is growing all the time meaning that we are well on track to meet our target of 400 remote working hubs nationwide by 2025.
Today there are Connected Hubs available in every county and more are coming into the Network on a weekly basis. My Department continues to provide significant funding for the establishment and development of hubs through a range of schemes.
In terms of support for individuals to use Connected Hubs, in June I launched the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme to provide 10,000 hot-desk sessions for free over the lifetime of the Scheme. Phase 1 of the Scheme concluded in August, and the second phase of the scheme will open shortly.
I am confident that the continued development of Connected Hubs can make a very real contribution to the delivery of the ambition for rural Ireland set out in Our Rural Future.
