Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
216. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to develop remote working opportunities further and improve the facilities and conditions to encourage remote working, especially in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32709/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs our country continues to navigate Covid-19, remote working has become more important than ever before. This is reflected in the Programme for Government, which contains commitments aimed at facilitating remote work across Ireland in recognition that remote work can provide benefits in terms of regional development, climate action and work-life balance.
In July, my Department launched a public consultation on guidance for remote work. We received 522 submissions from employers, employees, representative bodies and special interest groups. Based on the analysis of the submissions, my Department is using the insights garnered to enhance and refine further current remote working guidance. The Department’s guidance webpage will be updated regularly to reflect any changes made in response to the consultation, with the first update before the end of this year.
A key commitment in the Programme for Government is the development of a Remote Work Strategy. My Department is committed to publish this before the end of the year. Work is currently taking place under the guidance of an Interdepartmental Group. The strategy will consider what changes are needed to develop an environment that encourages remote working solutions.
In terms of facilities, there are a broad range of digital hubs currently operating across Ireland. These hubs provide diversity in the capacity, scale of facilities and services they offer. The Western Development Commission (WDC) has mapped over 100 of these hubs within the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) region with the objective of developing these hubs into a cohesive network of facilities.
My Department is represented on an Interdepartmental Working Group on hubs, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). This Group has been convened to investigate the feasibility of mapping and developing a national network of remote working facilities, based on the model of the AEC region.
An additional €5 million has been allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development in Budget 2021 to support the development of this national hubs network as well as to upgrade the existing facilities throughout the country.
Through these initiatives, the Government is striving to develop a landscape in which employers and employees can reap the potential benefits remote work has to offer.
