Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of support provided to remote working, innovation or shared working hubs since the start of the 33rd Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60017/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a number of schemes that focus on projects supporting the development of remote working hubs as outlined in Our Rural Future–Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025.

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. Since the start of 2020 approximately €31 million has been allocated to remote working projects under these schemes.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of digital hubs. Under this year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible for funding. The repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible application themes.

Earlier this year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to more than 100 applicants from all across the country. A list of successful applicants is available on my Department's website.

My Department also supports the development of the Connected Hubs Network - www.connectedhubs.ie, The National network offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. The Network 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. There are currently 170 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week.

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 strategic development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play as key economic assets in our post-Covid recovery.

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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82. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the provision of financial support to local authorities to bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs as outlined in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60219/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a number of schemes that focus on projects supporting the development of remote working hubs as outlined in Our Rural Future–Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of digital hubs. Under this year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible for funding. The repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working was also eligible to apply.

In April, I announced funding of €81m for 25 landmark projects under the RRDF - many of the successful projects involve the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as Enterprise and Co-Working Hubs.

In July I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs call to over 100 applicants - this funding will allow for the expansion of existing hub facilities and remote working infrastructure in digital hubs, including Broadband Connection Points, throughout the country.

The new Town Centre First Policy, which is expected to be launched shortly, will also be an important catalyst for Local Authorities and stakeholders to plan for the revitalisation of their towns, and particularly to explore new and alternative uses for vacant properties in town centres.

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 members of the platform. It is also facilitating the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. There are currently 170 remote working hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week.

I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in our town centres in recognition of the vital role that they can play as key economic assets in our post-Covid recovery.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the connected hubs network is primarily focussed on providing remote or hybrid work options for individual use; if not, if the network is open to businesses seeking longer-term, formal work arrangements for company employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60194/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.

In May I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 170 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week.

The National Hub Network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities. The Network can thus facilitate a wide range of users, including individual users as well as companies of different sizes with varying requirements. Many hubs have tenants that are long-term clients who take more space as they grow.

To date our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connectedhubs.ieplatform - the focus will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and hub users. Work is also ongoing to consult with hub managers across the country in developing the future strategic direction of the National Hub Network.

A significant number of initiatives will be developed through the Network including: supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and large scale employers; supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and Government agencies; and supporting collaborative projects in the Network to drive economies of scale.

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 a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.