The Government announced today that the properties held by the Digital Hub Development Agency in the Liberties area of Dublin are to be transferred to the Land Development Agency in mid-2022.
The redevelopment by the Land Development Agency of the 5.6 acres held by the DHDA will be a transformative project for Dublin, with the potential for significant housing supply in a centrally-located area, as well as potential for other community uses. The Land Development Agency intends to prepare a plan for development on the DHDA site and will engage with the local community and other stakeholders on other potential civic and community uses in addition to housing.
The decision was made following a strategic review commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which concluded that the digital tech sector in Dublin has developed significantly in the past twenty years, and that the Agency is no longer required in order to sustain the continued growth of the sector. The Digital Hub Development Agency played a key role in the early days of Dublin’s development as a tech hub. Communications Minister Eamon Ryan thanked the board and staff of the Agency for their hard work and commitment since it was established in 2003.
The Government remains committed to the regeneration of the Liberties area of Dublin. The Minister will work closely with the DHDA, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Land Development Agency to ensure that the wind down takes account of the needs of the clientele and staff of the DHDA and the community which it has served over the years. The agency will be wound down over the next year and permanent staff will be redeployed within the public service.
Note to the Editor
The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) was established in 2003 to oversee the Digital Hub Project. The original decision to establish the Digital Hub Project was taken in light of the success of other high-tech clusters around the world and was seen as an important contributor to Government policy for the development of the digital tech industry. The DHDA property portfolio comprises a campus of circa 5.6 acres located in the Liberties area of Dublin. The DHDA currently has a clientele of 30 companies employing 270 located in the Digital Hub Campus.
In late 2019 the Department commissioned a strategic review of the DHDA in order to inform policy as to its future, including whether the DHDA continues to be required to meet a socio-economic need. The review undertaken by Grant Thornton was overseen by a cross-departmental and agency steering group. The review was completed in 2020.
The Grant Thornton report concluded that there is sufficient flexible co working space available across Dublin if needed to accommodate the Digital Hubs clientele. The managed wind down, which is expected to be completed by mid-2022, means that there will be no immediate effect on the client companies, and they will be in a position to continue trading as normal throughout the wind down period.
There are a comprehensive range of measures in place to support Ireland as a centre for next generation digital enterprises. Minister Ryan signed a contract in late 2020 with a consortium, led by Dogpatch Labs, to deliver accelerator, pre-accelerator and train the trainer services to grow digital start-ups and the wider digital start-up ecosystem. The new contract provides for a strong regional and nationwide dimension to the services with hubs delivering services in Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Galway.