Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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957. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are indications of the performance of the recently launched connected hubs app further to the report on the funding for digital hubs under the connected hubs funding stream; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18022/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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966. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are early indications of the performance of the recently launched connected hubs app; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18081/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 957 and 966 together.

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 last year I launched the National Connected Hubs network - connectedhubs.ie. There are currently 223 hubs live on the platform with this number rising on an ongoing basis. The network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating companies of different sizes. The platform offers booking and hub management applications to network members.

In late February this year, I launched the Connected Hubs marketing campaign and mobile phone app. This will help to underpin usage by remote workers across the hub network and ensure that they remain as a viable option for workers across Ireland.

To date, these initiatives have delivered positive results. For example, the visits to ConnectedHubs.ie tripled from January to February, with visitors interacting with the website from as far away as the USA. The app has also seen some encouraging traffic. For example, there has been a conversion rate of almost 90% from Android users who searched for the app and decided to download it.

While the marketing campaign and app are still at an early stage, and we will get more comprehensive data in the coming months, those early results are very positive and my officials continue to monitor developments.

To date our focus has been to develop the hub network. With the Connected Hubs marketing campaign now ongoing, the focus has shifted to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and new hub users to drive use of this invaluable national resource

The establishment of a National Hubs Network is a key commitment in Our Rural Futureand I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the ongoing 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.