Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
16. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his Department's engagement with Cork County Council regarding the development of remote working hubs facilities in Cork; if further investment is planned to expand remote working opportunities and connected hubs in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8191/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy, recognises the importance of remote working and committed to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by the end of 2025.
I am happy to say that we reached this target last November. Indeed we have since progressed further, and there are now 406 hubs on the network. My officials are working with the Connected Hubs team in the Western Development Commission to ensure that this important project continues to go from strength to strength.
In relation to Cork in particular, when we launched the Connected Hubs network in 2021 it included 13 hubs in Cork. There are now 42 hubs on the network in Cork, offering a valuable service to remote and hybrid workers all across the county.
In parallel with the development of the network, funding for remote working projects has been available across a range of funds in my department's Rural Development Investment Programme. Since 2020, over 200 projects which include the development of remote working facilities have received financial support under schemes such as the Rural and Regional Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and LEADER. This included specific support for the development of capacity in existing hubs under the Connected Hubs Calls in 2021 and 2022.
My officials engage on an ongoing basis with their colleagues across local authorities in relation to such supports, and also maintain ongoing engagement with local authorities in relation to digital services such as hubs via the network of Broadband Officers funded by my department.
In order to ensure that we can build on the progress achieved to date I intend to publish the first National Hubs Strategy shortly. The strategy is being developed jointly with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Strategy, and will present a coherent approach to the future development of remote working hubs.
I am committed to ensuring that we continue to build upon the advantages that hybrid and remote working offer to communities all across Ireland.
