Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to the achievement of the various targets set for or by the digital hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14501/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which costs anticipated in the digital hub project are on target to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14502/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to the achievement of the various targets set for or by the digital hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14732/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which costs anticipated in the digital hub project are on target to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14733/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 48, 154, and 155 together.

The digital hub project managed by the independent Digital Hub Development Agency has been and continues to be successful in attracting digital industry tenants and operates a number of significant community, educational and promotional initiatives as part of its role. The agency has been successful in growing the cluster with almost 50 companies now employing over 300 employees in the hub.

Turning to the social and community development remit of the hub, the agency has also surpassed expectations. The Liberties learning initiative uses technology to tackle social and educational disadvantage in the area. Supported by funding from Diageo Ireland, the programme is delivering a range of learning and showcasing projects focused on the creative use of digital media and reflects the national priorities of building a knowledge-based society and addressing the digital divide. The schools programme of the Liberties learning initiative has developed a range of programmes in 16 local primary and second level schools aimed at addressing the digital divide.

These include providing information and communication technology, ICT, equipment and technical support to local schools, providing professional training to teachers so they are fully informed about the education benefits of ICT and advising and informing the schools of employment opportunities in the digital sector. The schools programme aims to equip local children with the skills needed to live in a digital age, and to work in the digital media industry, which will be located on their doorstep.

I am currently exploring options with the agency to deliver the property development project in a timely manner. When completed the project will deliver 500,000 sq. ft. of enterprise, learning and educational, residential and retail space.

While the larger hub site is being developed, the agency is space constrained, given the high number of tenants. Parts of the former Media Lab Europe, MLE, building are now being utilised by the hub on a temporary basis. In terms of the financing of the operation, the initial premise in setting up the digital hub was that it would become financially self-sustaining over time. However, due in the main to delays in developing the hub site for commercial exploitation, the agency has not become self-sustaining and continues to operate on the basis of borrowings in addition to income from rental of property.