Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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792. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has established a working from home policy for its employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13553/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.

The Civil Service HR Division of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently finalising central guidance for the Civil Service on working from home. My Department will be guided by this and will shortly finalise its own policy, in line with this central guidance.

Aside from this formal policy my Department has proactively issued guidance to all staff in relation to working from home protocols and health and safety obligations, as set out in guidance from the Health and Safety Authority and Civil Service Employee Assistance Service.