Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the support provided under the connected hubs facility to encourage hubs and such facilities currently outside the network to join. [60196/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 74 together.

Our Rural Futurecommits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of 400 remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. The National Hub Network Working Group led by my Department has so far identified and mapped over 460 remote working hubs across the country, 170 of which are live on the Connected Hubs platform, with this number growing every week. All hubs that have been mapped are invited to join the Network.

The Connected Hubs platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. It will also facilitate the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. These supports will serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy.

To date, our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connecthubs.ie platform, but this will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs, business owners and hub users.

My Department continues to work with the Western Development Commission and other key stakeholders to further develop the connectedhubs.ie platform. We are engaging with hub managers across the country on an ongoing basis via one to one engagements and workshops. The outputs of this engagement will contribute to the future strategic direction of the Connected Hubs network.

The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Futureand I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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58. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the efforts to support remote and hybrid working in urban areas such as suburban villages of Dublin given the positive impact for communities and the reduction in commuter traffic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60043/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the depopulation of certain areas.

My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs and Broadband Connection Points as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.

To date, over €83m has been provided by my Department through various funding streams to support the development of digital hubs and remote working facilities across Ireland.

My Department also supports the development of the Connected Hubs Network - www.connectedhubs.ie, that offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. There are currently 170 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week. There are currently 27 hubs based in County Dublin that are live on the platform. A further 38 have been mapped and are invited to join the National network.

Earlier this year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to applicants across all regions. This included funding for a number of initiatives throughout County Dublin to add capacity to their remote working infrastructure, including for hubs in Malahide, Dun Laoghaire, Clondalkin and Terenure.

The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Futureand I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in both rural and urban areas.