Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 532: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the digital hub project is progressing with original intentions and objectives, costs and investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3826/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. There are 835 full-time employees and 350 part-time employees currently working in 97 Digital Hub companies. The Hub has attracted significant inward investment with approximately 10% of the enterprise cluster and 30% of the employees resulting from foreign direct investment.

The DHDA continues to successfully promote the identity and brand of the Hub and companies located there have enjoyed notable successes and have gained national and international recognition. The Hub is a sought after location for digital media companies and the cluster effect is recognised as an attractive environment for innovation.

On its educational remit 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 inner city. The DHDA has developed an award-winning community engagement process, the Community Public Private Partnership (CPPP). To date, 36 digital media learning programmes have been delivered to 10,000 participants in local schools and community groups.

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. 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 will be delivered by next April through redevelopment of a building in the Hub in partnership with the OPW.

The level of Exchequer funding for the agency has fallen over the years from 100% to approximately 40% in 2009. The Agency had plans for the development of further office space that would have eliminated its reliance on Exchequer funding. This development is not progressing at present in light of the current economic climate and the Agency is pursuing the matter with the two developers concerned. Meanwhile I will shortly undertake a review of the DHDA in light of its work to date, the implications of current economic circumstances for its future funding and its potential role in delivery of the Government's objectives for the smart economy.