Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Having had the experience of being a member of Fingal County Council and being stuck behind a tractor not too far from Skerries I can understand how sometimes it can delay journeys.

As 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. The programme for government recognises that remote work can provide benefits in terms of regional development, climate action, work-life balance and female entrepreneurship.

As a response to Covid-19, my Department launched a new web page dedicated to providing guidance for working remotely. This web page is a central access point for all of the Government guidance currently available on remote working. It allows employers and employees to navigate the existing guidance and legislation relevant to remote working and provides information for people working from home during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In July, the Department launched a public consultation on 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 the current remote working guidance and the forthcoming strategy. The web page will be updated regularly to reflect any changes made in response to the consultation, with the first update before the end of this year.

My Department will publish a remote working strategy before the end of the year and this work is 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.

The programme for government contains a commitment to bring forward proposals on a right to disconnect, with consideration being given to a role for the Workplace Relations Commission in this regard.

In relation to taxation, there are already arrangements in place that allow remote workers to claim certain allowances to cover costs incurred due to working from home. As outlined in budget 2021, these arrangements have been extended to include the cost of broadband and claims for any other vouched expenses occurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of their employment.

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