The Digital Hub Development Agency in Dublin is to be established as an independent company under Dublin City Council, it emerged today.

Communications Minister Alex White, TD, said the agency is to merge with Dublin City Council and will be established as an independent company.

The DHDA is planning a significant expansion of office space by refurbishing mainly derelict properties on its Dublin 8 campus.

The board of DHDA has agreed to a new strategy and funding model to put the company firmly on a track towards self-sufficiency.

White said that as an independent company, the DHDA will maintain its commercial digital focus and be positioned to respond swiftly in a dynamic commercial property market.

This will support both job creation and regeneration of this historic area of Dublin. Work is already under way on the refurbishment of a derelict 19th-century Grainstore building and the development of high-quality student accommodation on The Digital Hub campus, White said.

This new office space will come on stream over the coming year, with completion of the student accommodation in 2016.