Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this motion, which I welcome. I congratulate Senator Currie on her very hard work on it. I have heard her speak about the benefits of remote working on numerous occasions. I completely support her in that regard. Last week, I had the opportunity to raise on the Order of Business our need to reimagine our lives, look at things differently and work differently. We must also examine our connections and connectivity. Regarding the development plans being produced right around the country, Kildare has just started the process. The plans must support regeneration in our rural towns and villages. If people are to be able to work from home or remote hubs, families should be looked on more favourably through planning permission in relation to giving support to those around them.

There is no doubt that rural broadband is key to this, but I had to smile wryly when I heard my colleague, Senator Ahearn, saying broadband would not happen overnight. Fine Gael had nine years in government to deliver it. The national broadband plan is important and I am glad it is being implemented but I am sure the Senator will also send his congratulations to the former Minister, Deputy Naughten, who also helped to deliver it.

Opening up the workforce is important. There are many people with disabilities who do not have the opportunity to leave home to seek or go to work. Remote working could open a new area for them. There are many women at home who have not had the opportunity to reskill and return to work. There are opportunities in this regard that we should be able to tap into.

Our small towns have been haemorrhaging residents for many years, particularly in areas that are more rural. They have a huge opportunity. We can live healthier lifestyles when we are not racing or rushing to train stations to get onto crowded carriages. We are paying a significant amount of money to do so. We can lead healthier lifestyles when we are not racing to leave babies and toddlers at childcare at unearthly hours of the morning and collect them at unearthly hours in the evening. It can certainly lead to a better lifestyle. It gives people the opportunity to be part of stronger, healthier communities.There are many people living in communities who do not have the opportunity to connect because of the hours of commuting and unhealthy lifestyles due to that commuting. There is much to gain.

Not all roles lend themselves to remote working. It is important to note that some employees who have had the opportunity to correspond about remote working over the past year have referred to experiencing isolation, loneliness and stress. We have to look at that too and at how we can explore creativity, group dynamics and shared ownership, because there is nothing like getting around a table with colleagues at work to brainstorm about solving a problem and finding a shared vision going forward. I certainly do not want to see everything being dealt with remotely. Senator Cummins mentioned health being delivered remotely. He is right that that can be a good thing but it cannot be a replacement. In one small town in Kildare, Ballymore Eustace, instead of a general practitioner, a remote health service was put in place in a local shop. That has certainly filled a gap but it is not a replacement and we should not see it as such.

Remote hubs are important. Apart from working at home, the idea of being in a remote hub where we can have a sense of collegiality is important. My village, Rathangan, is a small village with a population of less than 1,000. A quick survey was done on a Sunday ten months ago and 87 people said that they would like to work from a remote hub. We are looking at ensuring that the local community centre can be kitted out as such. Finance to help support that is important. Those necessary financial supports have to be rolled out together with broadband. We also have to look at other aspects of remote working that we can support. I support and commend the motion.