Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
77. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of Programme for Government commitments (details supplied); if they have been completed; if not, the timeline on their progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48006/21]
View answer‘Making Remote Work’, the National Remote Work Strategy, was published in January 2021. The objective of the Strategy is to ensure remote work is a permanent feature of the Irish workplace in a way that maximises the economic, social and environmental benefits.
The Strategy contains 15 actions to progress remote work into the future. Each action has been attributed actors for its delivery and a deadline of this year. Lead actors report progress on the actions to the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on Remote Work. This IDG has met three times to date this year. At these meetings it was established that good progress is underway to achieving actions by their deadlines.
A number of key achievements have been made to date in line with the Strategy such as the following:
- My Department is currently developing new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 in which there will be a focus on promoting remote working opportunities and investing in infrastructures across the nine regions. My Department also recently announced €10 million in funding for a new Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme. This scheme is administered by Enterprise Ireland includes a €500,000 Feasibility Study to assist enterprise development projects, including the development of remote working and enterprise infrastructure.
- ConnectedHubs.ie- Ireland’s first national digital hub network- was launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development at the end of May. ConnectedHubs.ie is an online platform which provides information about the facilities available at remote working hubs throughout Ireland, and enables users to book spaces, desks, offices and events in hubs for short- and long-term use. ConnectedHubs.ie will ultimately link over 400 hubs throughout the country. The Connected Hubs Call has awarded funding of €8.8m to 117 remote working hub projects in July to upgrade Ireland’s remote work infrastructure.
- In April 2021, the Workplace Relations Commission published the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect which will help employees to strike a better work-life balance and to switch off from work outside of normal working hours.
- In April/May 2021 a Public Consultation on the Right to Request Remote Work was held by my Department. The arising submissions were published in August 2021 and work is underway on the next steps required for this legislation.
- Discussions are ongoing to find ways through which the rollout of the National Broadband Plan can be accelerated in order to improve connectivity in all parts of Ireland.
- Remote Work promotion and skills training is underway by a range of agencies including EI, IDA Ireland, WDC, Skillnet Ireland and the ETBs.
- In June 2021, the Government launched the ‘Making Remote Work’ campaign across broadcast, print and social media to promote the Guidance for Working Remotely webpage. This webpage acts as a central access point for employers and employees and brings together the existing State guidance, legislation and advice on remote work into one place. The webpage includes an Employer Checklist to provide employers with a quick way to successfully navigate the adoption of remote working arrangements. The Government is encouraging workers and employers to discuss the kinds of remote working arrangements that may be suitable for their organisations.
