Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1250. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the digital hubs that exist here that are in receipt of public money; the location of same; the details of State funds received each year for the previous five years; the startup costs of each; and the capital and current costs of each on an annual basis. [19210/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department provides funding to the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) which was established under the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 to support digital entrepreneurship through the creation of a cluster of enterprises focussed on digital content and technology. The Digital Hub project in Dublin commenced in 2000 with the establishment, on an interim basis, of Digital Media Development Limited. In establishing the Digital Hub, the State invested €73.6m in a portfolio of investment properties in 2001 and 2002, and a further €2.29m in broadband infrastructure.

The Digital Hub campus comprises a nine-acre site and the DHDA’s property portfolio consists primarily of protected structures, including vacant and derelict buildings which must be maintained pending their redevelopment.  Over 50% of the campus has been developed and there are currently nine properties available to let to digital clients.  

The DHDA meets its operational costs from a mix of Exchequer subvention and commercial income.  A number of strategic digital initiatives undertaken by the DHDA have also been funded by my Department.  In addition, it has received grant funding from sources other than my Department.

The Table sets out the Exchequer grant funding received by DHDA in each of the previous five years.

The DHDA is currently focussed on implementing its strategy which envisages a significant expansion of its office capacity through the development and refurbishment of its properties. It aims to increase commercial income with a view to eliminating reliance on the Exchequer, while simultaneously contributing to the major regeneration of the Dublin 8 area.

My Department also provided €20,000 in 2016 to the Ludgate Digital Hub in Co Cork for a report relating to its approach to stimulating demand for high speed connectivity among citizens and businesses at a local level.