Skip to main content
Normal View

Flexible Work Practices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Questions (46, 47)

Emer Higgins

Question:

46. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps taken by his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within his Department who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; his plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45373/21]

View answer

Emer Higgins

Question:

47. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45390/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months, for implementation in Q1 2022. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Government Department/Office, including my own Department, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.

All staff in my Department and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which is also part of the Department, are enabled to work from home. All of these staff have access to our Government hosted video conferencing services and can also access cloud hosted video conferencing services. In addition, in the order of 35% of staff have an additional licence for the purpose of organising cloud hosted video conferences. My Department utilises OGP frameworks, where available, for the procurement of laptops and other computer equipment and services, etc. Licences for the cloud hosted video conference service were procured nationally.

The position is relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below.

Public Body

Percentage of staff working from home and with access to video conferencing capacity

Framework under which procurement for remote working/video conferencing licences were managed

Office of Public Works (OPW)

77% The majority of the remaining OPW staff work primarily outdoors, with no office based activities e.g. drivers, craftsmen, general operatives etc.

OPW uses OGP frameworks laptops and other computer equipment and services.Cloud-based video conferencing services were procured through open tender competition on eTenders.gov.ie Website and OJEU.

National Shared Services Office (NSSO)

100%

OGP Managed Frameworks - Laptops, Citrix, MS Teams, Skype for BusinessWeBex – 3 quotes satisfied requirements due to small number of licences required (WeBex Training and WeBex Events)

Public Appointments Service (PAS)

100%

Microsoft Licensing Services (Cloud based Videoconferencing – Microsoft Teams)Personal & Notebook Computers and Associated Services (laptops for staff)

State Laboratory

100%

No additional procurement requirements

Office of the Ombudsman

100%

All required hardware and software required to facilitate this are procured from OGP frameworks.

Office of the National Lottery Regulator (ORNL)

100%

Upgrade to ICT system completed in February 2020 via eTenders. Adjustments to tender requirements were made, in compliance with OGP guidelines, e.g. to substitute desktop PCs with laptops and ancillary equipment to facilitate remote dial-in. Some items noted above are small-value projects that did not meet value criteria of OGP frameworks.

Question No. 47 answered with Question No. 46.
Top
Share