Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

476. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding for towns in rural areas to develop remote working hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23781/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy 2021 - 2025, commits to investing significantly in remote working infrastructure to provide an opportunity for more people to live in rural communities while following their career ambitions. There are a number of measures in my Department which support the development of remote working hubs.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages, making them more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 Scheme prioritised projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use.

Since it was first introduced over €149 million has been allocated to more than 1,600 projects across Ireland. It has supported a range of activities from improving public realm areas to initiatives such as the development of enterprise hubs and remote working facilities. To date the TVRS has supported almost 130 hubs across Ireland, some 60 of which are dedicated towards co-working or remote working. The priorities for the 2023 TVRS scheme are currently under review and will be announced in due course.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas, which will deliver on the National Strategic Objective of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities.

The funding from the RRDF is provided to further the aims of Our Rural Future, which highlighted the need to build strongly on existing investment and to strive for even greater ambition and progress on the objective of balanced regional development. Projects supported include those that will deliver remote working facilities in rural areas. In total the Fund has now provided over €397m for 215 projects across Ireland, worth a total of €544m. An RRDF Category 1 call is due to open in Quarter 4 of this year.

Funding for the development of remote working hubs in rural areas may also be available under the LEADER programme, and arrangements for the new LEADER programme are now at an advanced stage.

Through the work of the Interdepartmental Steering Group for the National Hub Network, officials are now working on a new strategy for the development of the network. This strategy will, inter alia, examine the most appropriate and effective approach to funding for the hub network in the coming years to ensure that value for money continues to be delivered.