Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the four innovation hubs in the Gaeltacht regions of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, as outlined in action 84 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, have been developed; if not, the stage of development each hub has reached; the completion date for the hubs; the amount each hub will cost to develop; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23387/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the following is the current position in respect of the four innovation hubs referred to by the Deputy:

County Donegal: Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair

The work on the Digital Hub in Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair has now been completed. This development is part of the total investment made by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair. The digital hub will be open to the public in early June 2017.

County Kerry: Mol Tech – Daingean Uí Chúis

This digital hub opened to the public on 28 April 2017. It is being managed by local community groups under the umbrella of the Dingle Chamber and supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Kerry County Council.

Co. Mayo: Digital Unit, Béal an Mhuirthead

This digital hub is scheduled to open before the end of 2017 and will be managed by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Co. Galway: Digital Unit, An Spidéal

Capital provision is being set aside by Údarás na Gaeltachta to adapt a former factory in An Spidéal as the digital hub and Enterprise Development Center to serve the Connemara Coast. It is intended that this will be open to the public before the end of the year and will be managed by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Údarás na Gaeltachta has further advised me that the development of digital hubs and innovation centres is central to the organisation’s strategy for the development of various Gaeltacht areas and that, in that context, An tÚdarás intends to develop digital hubs in other Gaeltacht areas, including on Gaeltacht islands, in the foreseeable future.