Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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41. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of community hubs supported by the Government over the past three years where members of the community can work from their local community hub rather than travelling on overcrowded roads to their workplace; the number of such remote working hubs applying for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68385/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development 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 the end of 2025. The Connected Hubs online platform was launched in May 2021 and is funded by my Department. As of the 24th of November, 401 hubs have been onboarded to the platform, details of which are available on www.connectedhubs.ie.

Funding for remote working facilities continues to form part of capital schemes within my Department, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Scheme (RRDF), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) and LEADER. Since 2020, over 200 remote working facilities have been supported by these schemes.

In addition, my Department implemented targeted schemes in 2021 and 2022 to support the development of facilities in remote working hubs across Ireland to provide additional desk space and improve related services, such as  privacy booths, technical equipment, meeting facilities and access controls. Almost €14 million was allocated across 200 projects under these schemes.  In addition, the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme was launched in 2022 to raise awareness of the Connected Hubs platform and to encourage greater usage of hubs.

I intend to publish a first National Hubs Strategy shortly, developed jointly with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Western Development Commission and following consultation with key stakeholders. The strategy will present a coherent approach to the future development of digital hubs and will include measures to underpin the sustainable development of the Connected Hubs network as well as supporting balanced regional economic development and digital services for rural communities.