Yesterday, the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) launched its new Strategic Plan 2026 to 2028, with a vision for the enterprise campus to remain.
Back in 2021, the Irish Government took steps dissolve the DHDA and use The Digital Hub campus for housing, a move that was met with much disappointment in the area. In the intervening years, the DHDA has worked closely with the Land Development Agency (LDA) on those plans, and on facilitating an orderly wind-down, but has continued to attract new tenants. Today it says The Digital Hub is at near-capacity.
Now the new strategic plan lays out a vision where that process continue, but where The Digital Hub itself – the enterprise campus in Dublin 8 – would become a separate legal entity under the auspices of Dublin City Council (DCC) once the DHDA is dissolved.
In what it calls its Pear Tree Crossing masterplan, the LDA has committed to use derelict or vacant parts of The Digital Hub campus to develop some 550 homes. Crucially, it says the site is designed to offer “a vibrant mix of commercial, cultural and community facilities”.
And The Digital Hub says the LDA has indicated that the majority of The Digital Hub’s currently occupied buildings should remain as it would “support the overall plan to ensure a mixed-use new community where people can both live and work”.
Currently, The Digital Hub houses 59 businesses, social enterprises and cultural organisations, which collectively employ some 600 people. Its buildings are also offered for community use with activities such as events, theatre rehearsals, performances and exhibitions.
Akara, Bizimply, Kavaleer, MEG, Neuromod and PatientMpower are just some of the start-ups and enterprises currently located at the campus – as well as more than 40 artists – and social enterprises including Bee8, Change Clothes and Pocket Forests. Public agencies Codema, Post Primary Language Ireland and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board are also current residents.
The new strategic plan says the DHDA is currently engaged in discussions with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, DCC and the LDA on how this can be achieved. It would see a role for the DHDA as a standalone legal entity which would operate under the city council.
Darina Kneafsey, chair of the DHDA and Fiach Mac Conghail, CEO of The Digital Hub, were joined by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, and Richard Shakespeare, CEO of DCC for the launch at The Digital Hub yesterday (28 January).
“Realising this transition would dissolve the DHDA as required by Government while enabling the new standalone entity to maintain and advance its existing enterprise cluster and community programmes,” said Mac Conghail, who added that the plan would mean The Digital Hub could continue to play a role in the sustainable and urban regeneration of this historic part of Dublin city.
“We believe this would be a positive and effective outcome for all, especially as it is being proposed at a time when The Digital Hub is operating at almost full capacity.”
“We need to develop new housing, but it is important that it is developed in partnership and exists alongside business, community and mixed-use buildings as well as services and amenities,” said McAdam, who said it made sense to maintain the buildings operated by the Digital Hub.
“The council is constantly seeking to ensure key and historic parts of the city, including the Liberties, can benefit from regeneration and the development of new housing, but it is important that this activity recognises and protects existing infrastructure, facilities and enterprises such as The Digital Hub and its member businesses and organisations,” said Shakespeare, who said he was excited to see the outcome of the current process.
Established by the Government back in 2003, the DHDA is the Irish state agency that manages The Digital Hub with a mission “to deliver economic and cultural impact to Dublin 8 and beyond”. The new plan would see it continue and widen that mission.
Disclosure: Silicon Republic is a former tenant of the Digital Hub.
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