Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Fine Gael policy lab is looking at the issue of how we will have vibrant rural communities in a changing world. One of the things that has come from it very strongly is the value of the connected hubs the Minister established. There is a belief they have greater potential. Will the Minister examine how they could open for longer hours, become virtual platforms for local produce, support voluntary mobility initiatives, support connections for people who have retired and want to join them, look at fostering social enterprise and become information bubs? There is a belief they have an awful lot more potential than has been fully developed so far.

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