Vol. 543 No. 4
65 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the initiatives taken to date to promote teleworking in the public service; the number of people who have been equipped to work from home; and the expenditure to date on such initiatives. [27374/01]
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness commits the Government to the development of teleworking throughout the economy. This is essential if we are to ensure the continued development of Ireland as a centre for information technology.
The programme also commits the Government to introducing teleworking options into mainstream public service employment. In April 2000 the Government approved a code of practice on teleworking or e-working and also agreed that Ministers would consider ways of encouraging these new methods of working within their Departments and agencies. The code of practice has been endorsed by the social partners and was launched by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Noel Treacy, who has special responsibility for science, technology and commerce.
A number of Departments are actively considering proposals for the introduction of teleworking. Some Departments are already operating informal or ad hoc teleworking arrangements to meet the needs of individual members of staff or to accommodate certain types of work which are particularly suited to teleworking. Some public sector organisations have also introduced teleworking on a similar ad hoc basis. No figures are available for the numbers of staff involved or the expenditure involved.
The Houses of the Oireachtas are considering the introduction of a formal pilot scheme for some of their staff. The pilot scheme will provide a valuable guide to the introduction of teleworking in the wider Civil Service. Under the arrangements established under the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme, the Department of Finance and the staff unions are discussing what immediate steps can be taken to promote teleworking in the Civil Service and to improve working conditions for staff, while ensuring the efficient operation of Departments.
