Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
79. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is working to collate data on the national infrastructure of remote working hubs; the number, classification, offering and occupancy of same as was highlighted as a key implication in the remote work in Ireland report published as part of Future Jobs Ireland 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21102/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRemote working has now become more important than ever in Ireland as part of our response to Covid-19. Last December my Department published the Remote Work in Ireland report. This outlined the prevalence and types of remote working in existence in Ireland. It also identified influencing factors on the part of both employers and employees.
One of the findings of the report was the need for data on our country’s hub infrastructure to aid informed policy in the area of remote work. While my Department has not conducted research on the national hub infrastructure, there is a large volume of work underway on this topic across Government departments and agencies.
This includes the preparation of remote working guidance for employers and employees, which my Department is leading on. An Interdepartmental Group, consisting of relevant departments and agencies, has been formed to steer the delivery of this guidance. This work, which will be completed later this year, will be informed by the recent public consultation held by my Department and direct consultations with key stakeholders.
Alongside the work that my Department is leading on in relation to remote working, the Department of Rural and Community Development is leading on work to categorise hubs in Ireland. This includes the recently launched Atlantic Economic Corridor Hubs Map which was developed in partnership with the Western Development Commission in support of the AEC Enterprise Hubs Network. Data is available at https://www.atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie/hubs-map/
