Inside Dublin's Digital Hub
The wide-ranging reform of the public sector, which could see the number of public-sector employees reduced by up to 37,500 people by 2015, will impact on two digital economy bodies, ComReg and the Digital Hub. At the same time, e-government will return to the national agenda.
Under the plans, ComReg, Ireland’s telecoms watchdog, will be merged with the Broadcast Authority of Ireland.
The Digital Hub cluster, which today comprises 80 companies employing 700 people, is to be merged with either IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland.
The CEO of Digital Hub Development Agency Philip Flynn said the agency has been in discussions with officials at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and he anticipates a management transition does not foresee an impact on tenancy arrangement for companies based at the Hub.
“Critically, it’s important to point out that The Digital Hub remains open for business, and will continue to do so beyond any merger. We will continue to serve existing tenants and facilitate prospective tenants on the site.
“In the coming weeks and months, we will be working to ensure that the transition of the project to a new agency remains focused on the needs of the tenants and the long-standing community interest in the Digital Hub,” Flynn added.
Other tech and science mergers under public-sector reform
The Expert Group on Future Skills is going to be absorbed into the Department of Education and Skills while the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Competitiveness Council are to be absorbed into the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.
The Government is examining the absorption of the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government into Science Foundation Ireland, while the future role of Shannon Development will be examined in the context of the Mid West Taskforce Report.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland are also to be merged.
