Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
95. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an extensive campaign aimed will be undertaken at encouraging civil servants to switch to roles at locations closer to their homes (details supplied) [10140/20]
View answerCOVID-19 has resulted in a large proportion of civil and public servants working from home. Officials in my Department are currently preparing guidelines for both employers and employees which will aid them in this new way of working. The officials will also be looking at the longer term remote working project as part of Future Jobs Ireland, which will include working from home and from hubs which the Deputy is referring to.
As the Deputy points out the Civil Service Mobility scheme which comes under the remit of my department offers an opportunity for staff members to apply for mobility through an open and transparent system. The scheme is being implemented on a phased basis with Phase 1 for the general Civil Service grades of Clerical Officer (CO) and Executive Officer (EO) launching in 2017/18 for mobility between and within 46 location zones. Staff can apply for mobility within their current zone/organisation as well as other zones/organisations. To date over 500 staff members have moved to their chosen location/organisation and c.5,000 staff (24% of participating grades) have applied for a move.
Plans are on track to extend the scheme to include the grades of Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer and Assistant Principal. When this process is complete, mobility will be in place for all general Civil Service grades from Clerical Officer up to Assistant Secretary.
Further information on the Mobility scheme is available to view at http://hr.per.gov.ie/civil-service-mobility/.
