Flexible Work Practices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Ceisteanna (86)

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

86. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Defence 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. [45363/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department or Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas. Once the framework is finalised, my Department will develop a policy, appropriate to the business needs of the organisation.

Approximately 97% of staff within my Department have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing, and the capacity to work remotely. These services are provided via the Build-to-Share Managed Desktop service supplied by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).