Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputies. Remote working, or as I like to call it, connected working, will be a game changer for rural Ireland. Last October or November, I carried out a joint initiative with Tracy Keogh from Grow Remote. What was a concept is now a reality and because of Covid-19 it is a working reality for tens of thousands of workers. There is a huge opportunity here for regional development. One looks at companies like Indeed and Microsoft, which have told their staff they can work remotely for the long term. That is hugely positive.

There are benefits across the board from remote working. For example, people can live and work in their locality; young people can avail of cheaper houses in the countryside; less time is spent commuting, which is also good for the environment; and most importantly from my perspective, it supports rural communities. The reality is that if one is an office worker and has a good phone and broadband coverage, one can do the same job in Ballybay as one can do in Ballsbridge. We need to seize the momentum on remote working. The Tánaiste is working on the development of a national remote working policy. That will be very important and I know he hopes to get it finalised in the coming weeks. That will look at areas in which employers can be given enhanced rights in being able to request the right to work remotely.

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