Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Thursday, 22 October) launched the National Hub Network Strategy, setting out an ambitious vision for the future development of Ireland’s hub network.
Developed in partnership with the Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment and the Western Development Commission, the strategy sets out 36 measures to build on existing investment in Ireland’s hub infrastructure, create more opportunities for people to work closer to home, expand access to digital services in rural communities and support entrepreneurs and small businesses to establish and grow.
Together, these measures aim to strengthen local economies and ensure that hubs continue to play an important role in the development of vibrant, sustainable communities across Ireland.
Speaking at the Hub Summit, Minister Calleary said:
“We have witnessed significant changes in recent years in how and where people work, driven by advances in digital connectivity and the growth of remote and hybrid working. Hubs have played an important role in responding to these changes, creating new opportunities for people, businesses and communities across Ireland.
“The National Hub Network Strategy 2026-2030 builds on the progress already made and reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting hubs and their contribution to balanced regional development.
“I am delighted to launch this strategy, which sets out clear direction for the next five years. Our ambition is to see hubs continue to evolve, becoming even more valuable assets for the communities they serve and responding to changing needs and opportunities.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD
“The success of this strategy will depend on continued collaboration across Government with the wider hub sector. Hub managers, operators and other stakeholders have played a vital role in the development of the network, and their experience and expertise will be equally important as we move into the implementation phase.
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to deliver on the ambitions of this strategy and ensure that hubs continue to make a lasting contribution to communities across Ireland.”
Welcoming the publication of the strategy, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said:
“I am delighted to support the National Hub Network, reflecting as it does a strong commitment to regional development. It demonstrates how targeted investments in enterprise infrastructure can yield wide-reaching benefits for local economies and communities across Ireland.
“Enterprise centres funded through Enterprise Ireland can support digital transformation, innovation, and business scaling, where hubs are positioned as foundational support structures for regional businesses, and I look forward to these investments continuing to deliver impact across the country.”
Today’s launch took place at the National Hub Summit in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, bringing together hub teams, sector representatives and policymakers to discuss the future of Ireland’s hub sector, share knowledge and exchange best practice.
Organised by the Western Development Commission on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, this year’s Summit also marks the fifth anniversary of Connected Hubs, celebrating the network’s growth and its contribution to communities across Ireland.
This Summit programme explores emerging opportunities for the sector, including artificial intelligence, and, in the year of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, draws on European experiences and approaches to hub development.
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, said:
“Five years ago, Connected Hubs was a Western Development Commission pilot programme in the West of Ireland. Today, it is a national network of over 400 hubs, changing how and where people work and creating new opportunities for towns and communities across the country.
“The launch of the new National Hubs Strategy at this year's Summit marks a defining moment for the network. We have moved beyond proving that remote working hubs can work. As the organisation responsible for managing and developing the network, the WDC is focused on maximising its potential to support regional economies, attract and retain talent and sustain jobs in communities across Ireland.
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission
“The next five years are about building on that success and ensuring Connected Hubs continues to play a central role in Ireland’s changing world of work.”
