Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for once again gracing us with his presence. He is a great friend to this Chamber. I thank him for always making himself available to us.

I call on the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to make a comprehensive statement on the Department’s remote working strategy and the specific targets set out for the remainder of this term. This is a vital plea for the future prosperity and sustainability of rural communities, a future that hinges on decisive action and clear accountability. It is building on the framework set out in Our Rural Future 2021-2025. When Our Rural Future was launched in March 2021, it committed to the establishment of a network of 400 remote working hubs nationwide, a key element of the Government’s policy to revitalise rural Ireland. By mid-2021, 66 hubs were live. The target rose to more than 200 hubs in 2022. Most recently, Connected Hubs reported approximately 300 hubs as early as 2025, with the 400-hub ambition still the policy as a central target.

A lot of money has been invested in this. Coupling that with the investment in our rural broadband plan, we have made huge strides in delivering vital infrastructure to support these rural communities. The attractiveness of high-paid jobs in this sector has been proven. A remote working survey undertaken by the University of Galway and the Western Development Commission in 2023 had plenty of proof that remote-enabled jobs yielded economic and demographic dividends, especially in rural areas, such as those in west Roscommon where I come from. They secure the prosperity, longevity and sustainability of rural communities. Remote working fosters survival. It supports town footfall, boasts local economies, reduces commuting and carbon emissions, and sustains services and schools. It also delivers high-paying jobs to rural communities, which will strengthen the long-term economic sustainability of those communities. It is for that particular reason I raise this topic today.

I recently spoke with a number of rural GAA clubs, especially dual clubs, that were struggling to field teams on a weekly basis across all grades. While we are in a housing crisis, we really need to take advantage of the infrastructural developments that we have already invested in in rural Ireland and better promote the quality of life we can deliver in those areas. There is a community benefit to attracting these jobs to the area.

The blueprint is clear and momentum is building. We need measurable targets, firm timeframes and transparency. This is the only way to guarantee that the investment of more than €100 million, the broadband upgrades and the hub network will translate into decent, high-paid jobs, rising rural populations and sustainable communities. I ask the Minister of State to outline his Department’s remote working targets for 2025 and beyond, the tools it will use, such as relocation supports, targets and reporting, and how he will hold himself and his Department publicly accountable for delivering on these targets.