Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this. Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.

In May I launched the national connected hubs network, together with the connected hubs platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the network. The national hub network working group, led by my Department, has so far identified and mapped over 460 remote working hubs across the country, of which 170 are live on the platform, with this number growing every week. The national hub network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating companies of different sizes.

To date our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connectedhubs.ieplatform. The focus will now shift to raising awareness of the network among the relevant stakeholders, including SMEs, business owners and hub users. Work is also ongoing to consult with hub managers across the country in developing the future strategic direction of the network. A significant number of initiatives will be developed through the network, including supporting collective engagement between connected hubs and large-scale employers and between connected hubs and Government agencies and supporting collaborative projects in the network to drive economies of scale. 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 a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role they can play in our post-Covid recovery.

If there is need for a particular type of hub for a particular type of business, we can accommodate it.

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