Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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623. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to her Department in Civil Service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22478/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not maintain data on the number of desks spaces available, however space utilisation is maximised with the support of the Office of Public Works. Approximately 68% of the staff complement in my Department are based outside Dublin. Within the larger offices in Tullamore and Athlone, there was a greater than 100% subscription for the available desk spaces. A number of refurbishment and reconfiguration programmes were undertaken earlier this year to increase the number of desk spaces available to staff. In addition, approximately 18% of staff occupy office space in close to 40 other locations as part of the National Education Physiological Service and Inspectorate networks. This office space is largely fully occupied.

My Department is actively monitoring desk occupancy across all offices particularly in the context of Covid related measures and prevailing protocols.