Written Answers Nos. 1-20
1. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45308/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department adopts a defence in depth approach to cyber security. This approach uses multiple layers and disparate systems to deliver security which is not dependent on any single component. Given the heightened level of risk which has pertained in recent months, my Department’s technical staff has adopted a posture of increased vigilance and oversight of systems.
My Department takes advice from its own external security advisers, and monitors advice and guidance coming from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on any additional steps which should be implemented in the light of current risks.
On foot of increased threat levels from cyber criminals and the advice from the NCSC, my Department has implemented a number of additional controls, and has also reviewed existing controls to ensure that they are still being applied consistently.
Given the current threat levels and the significant resources which cyber criminals are prepared to use to hack into systems, it is important that we are not complacent in our approach to cyber security. Cyber security is an ongoing process in my Department, and we will continue to review the controls we have in place and implement new controls and protections where necessary and as new cyber defence technologies become available.
For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise cyber security measures in place in public bodies. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements or to make comparisons of cyber defences between public bodies.
Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services, and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.
2. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 video-conferencing 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. [45365/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the agencies under its remit are driving the implementation of the National Remote Work Strategy, Making Remote Work, in a way which maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits. Each action in the Strategy has been attributed to lead actors for delivery and each action is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year. Lead actors report progress on the actions to the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on remote work which is coordinated by my Department. The IDG has so far met three times this year, most recently on September 7th. At these meetings it has been established that good progress is underway in achieving the actions by their deadlines. The IDG will meet again in November to further drive the implementation of the Strategy.
The provision of remote working infrastructure to all parts of the country is an important pillar of the Strategy. 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 and includes a €500,000 Feasibility Study to assist enterprise development projects, including the development of remote working and enterprise infrastructure.
On May 31st, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Western Development Commission launched Ireland’s first National Hub Network, ConnectedHubs.ie. This was followed on July 22nd with the announcement of €8.8 million in funding for 117 projects across Ireland as part of the Connected Hubs call. This investment will contribute to the ongoing development of the National Hub Network, which already includes 134 hubs and will grow on a phased basis to over 400 hubs throughout the country. The ConnectedHubs.ie platform is being widely marketed. This investment will bring significant employment opportunities to our regions and rural communities.
Agencies under the auspices of my Department are also playing an active role in implementing the National Remote Work Strategy. In April, 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. This reflects the Government’s wider commitment to create more flexible and family-friendly working arrangements which will benefit both employees and employers. The Health and Safety Authority has been providing ongoing guidance to employers and employees to ensure that remote working arrangements are implemented in a safe and sustainable way both during and beyond the pandemic.
IDA Ireland is engaging with its client base to share knowledge on the implementation of remote and hybrid working arrangements. These working models being promoted with international investors as part of IDA Ireland’s balanced regional development agenda. A particular emphasis is being placed on the potential of remote work to attract and retain talent. IDA Ireland supported the ConnectedHubs.ie launch through its communication channels and social media, and the ConnectedHubs map has been incorporated into IDA’s property marketing content. A number of recent regional jobs announcements have referenced roles being open on a remote working basis.
Enterprise Ireland has developed a Future of Work website featuring a range of resources to assist companies in transitioning to the remote, hybrid and flexible working cultures of the post-Covid environment. EI has been promoting this material to its client companies and beyond, and a new employer guide was launched at a webinar on June 22nd which was attended by over 200 people. EI is also supporting The National Association of Community Enterprise Centres to promote greater use of their associate hubs to assist with the training of hub managers and teams. EI is additionally a member of the Grow Remote Advisory Panel and represents the needs of Irish indigenous industry in the move to hybrid ways of working.
On June 28th, my Department 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 ‘Making Remote Work’ campaign is continuing, and the Government is encouraging workers and employers to discuss the kinds of remote working arrangements that may be suitable for their organisations.
As part of creating an environment conducive to remote work, my Department will soon legislate for the right for employees to request remote work. The report of the submissions received during the public consultation on the proposed measure was published on August 20th, and a working group has been established to draft the General Scheme of the Bill which will be presented to Government as soon as possible.
A vital part of ensuring the success of remote working arrangements now and in the future is ensuring that organisations and workers are equipped with the appropriate tools for communication and collaboration. I can confirm that within my Department, 100% core departmental staff have access to remote working and video conferencing tools, which were accessed through existing software licences held by the Department.
Taken together, my Department and its agencies have taken great strides in delivering the National Remote Working Strategy, and all actions remain on track to be delivered before the end of the year.
3. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45382/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the agencies under its remit are driving the implementation of the National Remote Work Strategy, Making Remote Work, in a way which maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits. Each action in the Strategy has been attributed to lead actors for delivery and each action is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, with work being coordinated through the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on remote work. The IDG has so far met three times this year, most recently on September 7th. At these meetings it has been established that good progress is underway in achieving the actions by their deadlines. The IDG will meet again in November to further drive the implementation of the Strategy. Agencies under the remit of my Department playing a leading role In implementing elements of the Strategy and represented on the IDG include the Workplace Relations Commission, the Health and Safety Authority, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
In April, 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. This reflects both the Government’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to remote work, as well as to creating more flexible and family-friendly working arrangements which will benefit both employees and employers. The Health and Safety Authority has been providing ongoing guidance to employers and employees to ensure that remote working arrangements are implemented in a safe and sustainable way both during and beyond the pandemic.
Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have been active in promoting remote work amongst business, as well as raising awareness of the skills and training interventions which underpin the successful adoption of remote working practices. Both organisations have also been facilitating the provision of remote working infrastructure in all parts of the country.
IDA Ireland is engaging with its client base to share knowledge on the successful implementation of remote working arrangements. These working models are being promoted with international investors as part of IDA Ireland’s balanced regional development agenda. A particular emphasis is being placed on the potential of remote work to attract and retain talent. Through its communication channels and social media, IDA Ireland supported the launch of Ireland’s national hub network, ConnectedHubs.ie, by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Western Development Condition at the end of May. A number of recent regional jobs announcements have referenced roles being open on a remote working basis.
Enterprise Ireland has developed a Future of Work website featuring a range of resources to assist companies in transitioning to the remote, hybrid and flexible working cultures of the post-Covid environment. EI has been promoting this material to its client companies and beyond, and a new employer guide was launched at a webinar on June 22nd which was attended by over 200 people. These resources have also been promoted through my Department’s Guidance for Working Remotely webpage, Employer Checklist and ‘Making Remote Work’ media campaign which is encouraging workers and employers to discuss the kinds of remote working arrangements that may be suitable for their organisations. EI is additionally a member of the Grow Remote Advisory Panel and represents the needs of Irish indigenous industry in the move to hybrid ways of working. EI is also supporting the National Association of Community Enterprise Centres to promote greater use of their associate hubs to assist with the training of hub managers and teams.
My Department also recently announced €10 million in funding for a new Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme which is administered by Enterprise Ireland. The scheme includes a €500,000 Feasibility Study to assist enterprise development projects, including the development of remote working and enterprise infrastructure.
A vital part of ensuring the success of remote working arrangements now and in the future is ensuring that organisations and workers are equipped with the appropriate tools for communication and collaboration. Figures for the numbers of staff access to remote working and video conferencing tools within the agencies under my Department’s remit are however an operational matter for the agencies themselves.
Taken together, agencies under the remit of my Department have taken great strides in delivering the National Remote Working Strategy, and all their actions remain on track to be delivered before the end of the year.
4. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether additional work visas need to be issued to non-EU nationals in order to tackle the labour force shortage in certain industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45468/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
Consideration of the submissions received to the current occupations lists review is underway and scheduled to be finalised in the Autumn.
5. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to remove horticulture workers from the ineligible list for work permits for non-EU nationals entering Ireland considering the increasingly concerning labour shortage in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45471/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for the food production industry is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Food Wise 2025 sets out a ten-year plan for the agri-food sector. It underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy, and it illustrates the potential which exists for this sector to grow even further. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine chairs the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with senior representation from all the relevant departments, including an official from this Department, and State agencies. The creation of 23,000 additional jobs all along the supply chain from producer level to high-end value-added product development are among the ambitious and challenging growth projections for the industry over the timeframe of the plan.
The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In May 2018, following a detailed business case submitted by the sector, my Department introduced a pilot quota-based scheme to remove the occupations of horticulture worker, meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant from the ineligible occupations list. This pilot scheme proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector and 500 permits were made available to the Horticulture sector. At present, the three quotas created for Dairy Farm Worker, Horticulture Worker and Meat Processing Operative are exhausted.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
Consideration of the submissions received to the current occupations lists review is underway, including from the horticulture sector, and scheduled to be finalised in the Autumn.
6. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the review by his Department of a submission (details supplied) to reopen the pilot work permit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45472/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In May 2018, following a detailed business case submitted by the sector, my Department introduced a pilot quota-based scheme to remove the occupations of horticulture worker, meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant from the ineligible occupations list. This pilot scheme proved very successful for a range of employers in the agri-food sector. At present, the three quotas created for Dairy Farm Worker, Horticulture Worker and Meat Processing Operative are exhausted.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
Consideration of the submissions received to the current occupations lists review is underway, including from the Irish Farmers Association, and scheduled to be finalised in the Autumn.
7. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will issue a Ministerial policy directive under section 29 of the Planning Development Act 2000 to An Bord Pleanála that reflects the Government statement on the importation of fracked gas which includes a moratorium on the development of LNG terminals pending the review of supply. [45743/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 21 of 16th September 2021. The position is unchanged.
8. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45309/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor operational and security reasons, my department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details of the Department's cyber security arrangements.
It is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT security tools and services.
9. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre to Departments and agencies as to whether their IT infrastructure should be monitored on a 24/7 basis for security breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45322/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has a broad remit across the cyber security of Government ICT and critical national infrastructure. The NCSC has three main roles: national incident response; information sharing; and Building Resilience. The NCSC supports Government Departments and other public bodies to improve the resilience and security of their IT systems to better protect services that our people rely upon, and their data.
The NCSC provides general guidance and notifications of major incidents and vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis to all Departments and agencies. However, it should be noted that the responsibility for the integrity and security of individual ICT networks lies with each individual Department or agency. Accordingly, decisions in relation to monitoring of networks are a matter of each entity to consider independently based on individual requirements and resources available.
11. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications 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. [45366/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. One of the key objectives of the Blended Working Framework is to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to move to 20% remote working. It is anticipated that my Department’s Blended Working Policy will be in place by end Q1 2022 in line with central Government guidance. A key aim of the policy will be to balance and support the business needs of the Department with retaining the flexibility and benefits of remote working.
To enable staff to work remotely during the course of the pandemic, all staff in the Department have been provided with the capacity to work remotely with IT hardware and software including laptops, phones and software licences. The percentage of staff with the capability to remote work and have access to cloud services for videoconferencing amounts to approximately 100%.
During the course of the pandemic, my Department continues to ensure all staff have access to cloud service remote videoconferencing and have the capability to remote work. This is managed under the Office of Government Procurement framework for the provision of Microsoft Licensing Services.
12. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45383/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the appropriate information in respect of their organisations.
13. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of waiting times for assessments and completion of works under the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45396/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100.
There are currently just over 7,000 homeowners on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. Data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that for homes completed in the first half of 2021, the longest time waiting for a survey from application date was approximately 23 months countrywide and the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months countrywide. The SEAI has advised me that wait times vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application as well as other factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials and the weather. The average wait times have increased significantly in 2021 due to the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in place between January and mid-April when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Wait times have also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead times for materials.
Funding for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased significantly to over €109 million in 2021, with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. The funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government. I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. In addition, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020. Every effort is being made to maximise output now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.
14. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a property (details supplied) cannot avail of high-speed broadband; when this area is due to be surveyed; the way his Department plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45404/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBroadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. My Department has now prioritised primary schools with no high speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard.
An acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan will see some 677 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by the end of 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. It is expected that well in excess of 200 will be installed by the end of this year with all 677 schools connected by end 2022.
Kilmurry National School forms part of this initiative and has already been surveyed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). NBI has informed my Department that a wireless solution has been proposed and installation will commence shortly. The Department of Education are aware of this development.
15. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that concerns that proposed changes to the requirements of the better energy communities scheme in order that a number of residential housing be incorporated in all applications could hamper commercial, public sector, voluntary and community-based organisations from successfully applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45652/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme which is funded by the Department and operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area.
The objective of the CEG Scheme is to support cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
The requirement for a small number of homes to be incorporated in all CEG applications is included in the context of the ambitious home retrofit targets set out in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan. These targets include the retrofit of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Homes are a core element of every community so it is entirely reasonable that they be included in applications for grant support under the CEG scheme. Indeed, the scheme requires a minimum of just one home to be included in applications for it to be deemed in line with the relevant criteria.
The 2021 budget for the scheme is €30 million, a €10 million increase on the allocation in 2020. This is in the context of an overall budget of €221.5 million for SEAI residential and community grant schemes this year.
It is noteworthy that demand for the scheme under the existing guidelines has been very strong - applications with a value in excess of €30 million have been received by SEAI under the most recent call for projects. This indicates that the requirement for homes to be included in projects has not impacted negatively on uptake.
I am advised that the SEAI is willing to work with organisations to help enable the inclusion of homes in applications.
16. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport if his Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45321/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department takes the security of its Information Technology infrastructure very seriously. IT infrastructure monitoring is one aspect of the security measures my Department has in place to address IT security issues and our technical staff monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels. Guidance, where available, from the Office of the Government's Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is regularly reviewed, considered and implemented where appropriate.
For operational and security reasons, however, it would not be appropriate to disclose specific details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts, or which might inadvertently assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in my Department's IT security arrangements.
17. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport 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 video-conferencing 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. [45377/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. With restrictions now lifting, extensive plans are being implemented to enable staff to transition gradually and safely to the shared workplace while maintaining an element of working from home, until a blended working scheme is formally in place.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are in consultation with Staff Representative Unions to agree a central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. It is anticipated this will be finalised in the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific business requirements my Department.
My Department has robustly facilitated remote working for staff in roles across all office locations, where feasible, since March 2020. Given the remit of my Department, there was a conscious effort to minimise the pressure on the public transport system to support essential workers travelling safely throughout the pandemic restrictions. This has included the supply of IT and office equipment to enable an effective and productive working environment at home for our people. All staff who need it to perform work duties have access to cloud services for remote video-conferencing.
My Department has arrangements in place with suppliers via frameworks available under the Office of Government Procurement for the provision of Video Conference licensing, mobile hardware and peripherals to enable staff to continue to work remotely as required.
18. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the steps taken by agencies under the remit of his Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45394/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I have referred your question to the agencies under the aegis of my Department for direct answer, I can advise that the Programme for Government seeks to deliver a better life for all and the Government is committed to facilitating and supporting remote working.
The objective of the National Remote Work Strategy "Making Remote Work" is to ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits.
Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10 working days.
19. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45526/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test.
Individual appointments are an operational matter for the RSA and I do not have any role in this process. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
20. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a refund for a replacement driving licence can be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45527/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to individual applications.
A driving licence cannot be renewed more that 3 months before the date of expiry of a licence. The licensing system, both online and in person, does not allow for a renewal application to be accepted outside that timeframe. If an incorrect application type was made, such as requesting a replacement licence, and the replacement licence was issued, a refund would not be applicable as the service paid for has been provided.
