Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which he has brought to my attention on a number of occasions.

On 15 January last, the Tánaiste published Ireland's first national remote working strategy to make remote working a viable and sustainable option for all after the pandemic. A key action within the strategy is to extend the mapping and classifications of hubs. Earlier this week, my colleague, the Minister for Community and Rural Development, Deputy Humphreys, launched the national connected hubs network, which includes a booking platform, brand and remote working hubs.

I am pleased that Youghal was successful in securing €4 million in funding under the Government's Project Ireland 2040 rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. This funding will transform a derelict site on the main street in Youghal into a new library, incorporating a digital learning suite and community space.

The Department of Rural and Community Development is investing in new hubs through further calls under both the RRDF and the town and village renewal scheme. The €15 million town and village renewal call launched on 30 May 2021. This will assist in bringing vacant properties in town centres back into use or repurposing existing community or publicly owned buildings as remote working hubs. The third call for category 2 applications to the RRDF is open and will close on 16 July. Category 2 funding will enable projects at an early stage to be developed to a high standard and be ready to commence.

To date, my Department has provided funding of €250 million for the establishment of approximately 270 enterprise centres throughout Ireland, administered by Enterprise Ireland, EI, including for Enterprise Youghal Centre, Emmet Place. This investment has enabled the establishment of physical space for entrepreneurs, start-ups, scaling companies, SMEs and a balance of small scale FDI. This enables the delivery of enterprise-related programmes to companies and provision of physical space to support remote working.

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