Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which the targets set in respect of the development of the Digital Hub have been achieved to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35862/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. The number of companies and employees based in the Hub has remained buoyant, with continued demand for additional space for digital media companies. There are now 840 full-time employees working in 97 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 500 employees approximately are engaged on a part-time basis by Hub companies. The work of these companies encompasses computer gaming, animation, on-line bookings, internet security, website development, mobile technologies, broadcasting, design and internet services. Such highly skilled knowledge economy companies are key to maintaining and developing economic success.

The DHDA has been successful in developing and promoting the identity and brand of the Hub. Late last year, GOA Games Services, a subsidiary of France Telecom, which already employs 200 people in the Digital Hub, announced an expansion to 400 employees in the next 12 months. Gala Games, a Japanese employer also located in the Hub, recently announced 50 new jobs. Havok, an Irish world leader in computer graphics technologies, was recognised with an Emmy Award in the United States last year. It is also notable that two Digital Hub companies, Lincor and Zamano, took first and second place in the Deloitte Fast 50 rankings of Ireland's fastest growing enterprises.

The DHDA also has remits relating to education, community and urban regeneration. The DHDA delivers a very successful learning programme, which provides state-of-the-art digital media education to schools and the wider community in Dublin's south-west inner city, with a view to improving learning, employment and leisure opportunities for local residents. The programme is very successful with over 3,300 participants in 2008. To date, in excess of 10,000 individuals have participated in these programmes.

The growing demand for commercial property for digital media companies at the Digital Hub is further evidence of success. The DHDA has leased office space to meet the requirements of its tenant companies and has reached the point where all of its own available space has been occupied – approximately 80,000 square feet in State ownership by the DHDA or OPW. A further 80,000 square feet is occupied by Digital Hub tenants under interim lease arrangements with third parties. An additional 20,000 square feet is already under construction and will be delivered by April 2010 through redevelopment of another State owned building in partnership with OPW. Proposals for the development of further office space on the site of the Digital Hub will be reviewed in light of the impact of the economic downturn on property development in general.