Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I am not aware of any search for or abandonment of a search for an anchor tenant in the digital hub. The digital hub project, managed by the independent Digital Hub Development Agency, continues to be successful in attracting digital industry tenants and operates a number of community, educational and promotional initiatives. The agency has been successful in expanding the cluster, with almost 50 companies employing more than 400 employees in the hub.

The Deputy may be referring to the tendering process for a suitable developer for the digital hub's regeneration role. While it is unfortunate that there was not a successful outcome to the developer competition, we have an opportunity to move on and deliver the digital hub project in a way that will give the stakeholders greater control over the project than the competition allowed. The Minister is in discussions with the agency to deliver the property development project in a timely manner. When completed, the project will deliver 500,000 sq. ft. of enterprise, learning and educational, residential and retail space.

While the larger hub site is being developed, the agency is space constrained, given the high number of tenants. Parts of the former Media Lab Europe building will be utilised by the hub on a temporary basis. On the issue of the closure of MLE, the basic premises underlying the Government commitment to research into the digital media sector remain. Research in the field of digital media is premised on a number of high level objectives, inter alia, establishing a scientific and technological leadership for Ireland, stimulating increased research and development investment in Ireland, attracting high quality inward investment and human capital, supporting enterprise development in Ireland, supporting high quality human capital formation in Ireland, collaborating with Irish institutions and development agencies and providing a forum for international exchange and discussion.

Consultation with regard to the establishment of a new research laboratory, the National Digital Research Centre, was recently concluded. It is proposed that the NDRC will consider some similar research to MLE but that there will be greater focus on sustainable research and more directive research in a new business model. The Minister will seek improved links to Irish universities and improved corporate governance. The NDRC will also be expected to develop more significant linkages with the digital media cluster emerging in the hub.

The consultation found a high level of support for the proposal to continue public investment in the digital media sector in Ireland with the establishment of the NDRC and there is likely to be a satisfactory response to the recent competitive call for proposals. The Minister is absolutely convinced the digital hub will continue to expand and develop in the years ahead.

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