James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Currie for raising this timely matter. I apologise on behalf of the Tánaiste who cannot be here this morning. Co-working hubs are becoming increasingly relevant as a result of the Covid pandemic. They have brought great benefits to people's lifestyles, allowing them to spend more time with their families and their communities.

As our country continues to navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working and measures to support remote working have become more important than ever before. This is reflected in the programme for Government, which contains commitments aimed at facilitating remote work across Ireland in recognition of the fact that remote work can provide benefits in terms of regional development, climate action and work-life balance.

In January, the Tánaiste published the national remote working strategy Make Remote Work, the objective of which is to ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in concert with its enterprise development agencies and other Departments, is actively working to support the implementation of this strategy through the progression of actions over the course of 2021, overseen by an interdepartmental group. Future investment in remote working hubs and infrastructure in particular in underserved areas will underpin the development of the national hubs network over the coming period.

To build on the capacity of enterprise centres, incubator hubs and shared office space to offer remote working facilities, a central objective of Enterprise Ireland's regional strategy, Powering the Regions, is the Worksmart Challenge. This challenge aims to support 10,000 co-working and incubation spaces regionally over the coming years.

Enterprise Ireland's open regional development feasibility fund is available to promoters looking to scope out and investigate the viability of larger full-scale projects such as remote working hubs. A feasibility grant of €15,000, or 50% of eligible costs, whichever is lesser, is available to qualifying applicants meeting the required criteria.

An additional €5 million has been allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development in budget 2021 to support the development of a national hubs network as well as to upgrade the existing facilities throughout the country. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, recently announced that €75 million has been awarded for 24 projects under the rural regeneration and renewal fund with significant investment made in remote working hubs under this call.

Furthermore, the 2021 town and village renewal scheme will place particular emphasis on projects supporting remote working and enhancing town living as outlined in Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025. The maximum grant available is being raised this year to €500,000. The scheme will support these objectives and will encourage more people to return confidently to town and village centres to work, shop and socialise. Through these initiatives, the Government is striving to develop a landscape in which employers and employees can reap the potential benefits remote work has to offer.

I acknowledge the Senator's concerns that there may not be enough focus on urban and suburban areas which would also have alleviated traffic congestion. Sometimes it can take as long to get from a regional county to Dublin as it can to get from the suburbs into the city centre. I will bring the Senator's concerns to the attention of the Tánaiste.