Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the roll-out of gteic facilities in Gaeltacht areas around County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47940/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The development of the gteic network of Gaeltacht digital and innovation hubs is a strategic initiative by Údarás na Gaeltachta to accelerate the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship and to create opportunities for remote working in the Gaeltacht. This will mean that office space and workspace of the highest standard will be available to entrepreneurs and concept developers in all parts of the Gaeltacht where they can access stable, high quality broadband. To date 20 gteic hubs have been developed in 5 Gaeltacht counties with a view to 31 hubs being completed by 2022 making it Ireland's largest digital hub network.

Notwithstanding delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, significant progress has been made on the development of the gteic facilities in the Mayo Gaeltacht.

My Department via Údarás na Gaeltachta has provided significant exchequer funding in support of the development of this network with further substantial funding also being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Rural Regional Development Fund.

Four gteic hubs are currently operational in the Mayo Gaeltacht as follows:

- gteic@Béal an Mhuirthead is the flagship gteic hub in Mayo with a 1,105m²footprint and a capacity of 94 workspaces. Plans for further development are being progressed.

- gteic@An Eachléim is a 200m²facility with 23 workspaces

- gteic@Acaill was officially opened by me in July 2021 encompassing 305m²and 37 possible workspaces

- gteic@An Corrán Buí is an 80m²facility with 8 workspaces

Údarás na Gaeltachta has confirmed that development work is ongoing on gteic@Gaoth Sáile, with building works, co-funded by LEADER and managed by the local community group, delayed due to the pandemic. In addition, Údarás confirm that the opportunity to develop a gteic innovation and digital hub in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh continues to be explored and that they will look to further progress matters early next year.