Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government published Making Remote Work, the National Remote Work Strategy, in January 2021. The Strategy sought to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature of the Irish workplace in a way which maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.

My Department led the development and implementation of the Strategy through the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group during 2021 and 2022; the Group continues to meet to coordinate remote working policy across Government.

Actions within the Strategy included the launch of Ireland’s National Hub Network, and the ConnectedHubs.ie platform in May 2021, both of which are led by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ policy recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025.

The Department of Rural and Community Development has invested over €150 million in the development of remote working facilities through programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Connected Hubs. Successful projects are developed in collaboration with local authorities and communities with many vacant and derelict buildings converted into remote working hubs.

In 2021, Minister Humphreys launched ConnectedHubs.ie, a shared online booking and payments platform for member hubs and their users. An interactive map shows the location and details of each remote working hub on the network. I understand from the Department of Rural and Community Development that as of 29 January, there are currently 343 facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform and a breakdown by county is provided below.

Following strong progress on the establishment of the Connected Hubs Network, and on achieving the initial critical mass, the initiative has moved to the next stage of development. The Department of Rural and Community Development, together with my Department, is leading development of the first National Hub Strategy in consultation with hub managers, local authorities, communities and other stakeholders. The Strategy is expected to be brought to Government this year.

My Department oversees development and implementation at the national level of nine Regional Enterprise Plans, a number of which champion the development and uptake of remote working space as part of the wider concept of placemaking.

ConnectedHubs.ie - Remote Working Hubs by County (as of 29 January 2024)