Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take to retain a cluster of digital companies in the Liberties in view of the decision to dissolve the Digital Hub Development Agency; and if his Department played any role in the decision to dissolve same. [30074/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The decision to transfer properties held by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) to the Land Development Agency (LDA) in mid-2022 was taken by Government, following a strategic review by Grant Thornton commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which concluded that the digital tech sector in Dublin has developed significantly in the past twenty years, and that the Agency is no longer required in order to sustain the continued growth of the sector.  

I understand that the managed wind down, which is expected to be completed by mid-2022, means that there will be no immediate effect on the client companies, and that they will be in a position to continue trading as normal throughout the wind down period.

The redevelopment of the site by the Land Development Agency will involve engagement with the local community and other stakeholders on other potential civic and community uses in addition to housing, which potentially could be significant.

In the medium term the redevelopment of the lands will lead to the creation of a significant number of jobs in the construction stage and support a major economic and social regeneration in Dublin 8.

In that regard, I have asked my colleague, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, to ensure that a structured plan be implemented in a timely manner to enable the existing clientele to be accommodated in other similar co-working spaces in Dublin city. I am also keen to ensure every effort be made to sustain the genuine relationships established between the Digital Hub community of businesses and the local community itself and to harness the potential for enterprise development and jobs growth within the complex when transferred to the LDA.