Closure of the digital hub is a short-sighted and lazy option, according to the Green Party (Ireland).

Green Party Communications Spokesperson Ossian Smyth said: "The decision by Pat Rabbitte to merge the Digital Hub into Dublin City Council shows the lack of any initiative from this Government in promoting the new internet economy.

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"It is being done to try and achieve some short term budget savings, but we need to do something more than cutting our way out of this recession. The Digital Hub had set up some innovative programmes such as www.webactivate.ie, which was getting Irish business trading on-line and getting people off the live register, but it was never supported by this Government.

"Dublin City Council will say that they can do the same job but it will need the same resources to do so, which calls the level of real savings into question. We will be left with the clear message that this Government does not do digital and the city and country will be the poorer for that."

(CD)