Corporate packages are to be developed in order to attract more businesses towards using remote working hubs, according to Minister Heather Humphreys.

The Minister for Rural Development launched a new app yesterday to allow people to book a space in one of the 193 remote working hubs on the Government's Connected Hubs platform.

It is expected that 200 hubs will come online by the end of the week, with the aim to increase the number of hubs nationwide to 400 well before 2025, its earlier target.

The Government has spent over €100million upgrading facilities and turning buildings into hubs.

Another €5million in funding was announced by Ms Humphreys yesterday to build capacity and enhance existing remote working facilities. The Minister said the average cost of a remote working hub is €15 to €20 per day. The Mill Enterprise Centre in Drogheda, Co. Louth, where she made the announcement yesterday, charges €24.60 a day for hot desking.

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Ms Humphreys confirmed yesterday that each hub sets its own price. BusinessPlus understands that the Minister has asked her officials to develop proposals for an incentive scheme to attract people into these hubs.

For example, if a person or employer signs up for six months or a year, the Department of Rural and Community Development might help meet the costs.

She also suggested that people could save money in the hubs through reduced heating at home and lower transport costs. "What I would say to people is contact the hub managers and have a conversation with them about the price," she said.

"We also have the corporate packages for businesses because some employers will want to provide remote working facilities for workers. We're looking at how we can incentivise people to use them and perhaps we can subsidise it initially. When you're working out the cost, you have to look at a couple of things. If you're working from home, there is the cost of heating your home. In a remote working space, it's warm, it's comfortable, you have the right desk, the heating is on. You don't have the costs of travelling." Not all remote working hubs are listed on the Connected Hubs platform.

One of the more expensive remote working hubs is in Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, where a hot desk is €35.01 per day. No monthly deals are listed on the Connected Hub website for this space. If someone were to work in this hub five days a week, it could cost them €700 a month.

However, cheaper hubs are available in some areas. For example, the Ballinaglera Digital Hub in Leitrim costs €5.01 per day for a hot desk.

Speaking yesterday, Ms Humphreys suggested that a "credit" might be looked at to incentivise people to start using the hubs.

In response to a parliamentary question from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín in December, Ms Humphreys confirmed that there were 457 remote working hubs across the country.

Ms Humphreys stressed that remote working will be part of life and that we cannot return to the "old normal" post-pandemic.

"Covid has been one of the great pilot schemes of remote working and we all know it has worked," Ms Humphreys said.

"Although remote working isn't for everyone, it should and will remain an option for many. As minister, I am determined that we do not let the opportunities posed by remote working to slip from our grasp. We cannot and we will not go back to the old normal."

Images: Julien Behal