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

In terms of funding for remote working hubs, the local authority can apply to my Department for the town and village renewal scheme or the rural regeneration scheme for the infrastructure. In terms of the kitting out of the facilities, you can apply to the connected hubs but, if you want to do so, you have to register to use the app.

We have 223 hubs on board and aim to have 400 on board by 2025. I expect us to meet that target way before that. We have asked the Western Development Commission to do this on behalf of the Department. It is working with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to promote the hub network to employers and sell the benefits, including reduced overhead costs and happier, more productive workers. I consider remote working to be a well-being initiative. We want to get employers to see the benefits of remote working and we want more people to get involved with it. We have one chance and it is now. We do not want to let it slip or let people go back to the old normal but keep them in the remote working spaces.

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