Flexible Work Practices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Questions (78)

Emer Higgins

Question:

78. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [45368/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department is fully supportive of the implementation of the national remote work strategy. The majority of staff have the ability to work remotely and have access to videoconferencing facilities utilising a range of cloud and on-premises technologies to support blended working. Some staff are unable to work remotely due to their presence being required to carry out essential duties and deliver essential services in our buildings. Video conferencing facilities are part of the department's worldwide communications infrastructure. Equipment and licenses for this are tendered through the Office of Government Procurement.

By spring 2022, it is intended to have developed a blended working policy that will support the wider Civil Service Blended Working Framework where the Department will formalise the approach to how staff work remotely.