Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the Minister's comments, what we will see is the hybrid model in general. We will mainly see blended working involving people working from home part of the week, possibly working from a hot-desking facility and possibly working in their main office headquarters on a less regular basis than would have been the case up to now. Flexibility and adaptability will be key. We need a system whereby, as Deputy Nash outlined, the employer will provide support in terms of those costs. We do not need the employee having to pay tax on that as a result of those facilities being provided to him or her.

The Minister mentioned an interdepartmental working group has been established, which I welcome. However, he will recall that this time last year he also announced the establishment of an interdepartmental working group relating to the provision of hot-desking facilities at vacant public sector office spaces across the country. The Department of Social Protection has offices in my constituency of Roscommon along with offices in Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon, Sligo and Letterkenny. Perhaps somebody from County Leitrim who is working in the Department of Education and Skills in Athlone could hot-desk in the Department of Social Protection in Carrick-on-Shannon if it has a vacant desk. In the same way, an employee in the pensions office in Sligo could hot-desk at the facilities in Roscommon town.

A working group announced by the Minister on budget day last year was established. Could he provide an update on the progress and how many hot-desking facilities have been made available to civil servants to allow them to work remotely rather than having to commute to Dublin or, alternatively, work from home? It is a blended approach that will be needed. Ultimately, many people will end up in hot-desking facilities. As part of the national broadband plan, we are rolling out 300 of those centres across the country. They will deal with a many issues relating to social isolation that exist in the context of people working remotely. Blended working will be the approach that will be used. We will see that the national broadband plan and the broadband connection points were very innovative at the time in terms of dealing with Covid-19 and the future post Covid-19. It is imperative that Government leads from the front on this, leads by example and makes this flexibility available to public and civil servants.