Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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247. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to his Department in Civil Service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22490/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department currently has a headcount of 617 staff, 177 staff are based in locations outside of Dublin City Centre and each staff member is allocated a desk to undertake their duties.

*IRCG centres operate a 24/7 emergency response service

**The Tourism & Sport function, primarily based in Killarney, will formally transfer to the Department of Media, Arts, Tourism, Sport, Culture & An Gaeltacht in the near future.

In compliance with current public health advice and Government guidelines on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of staff in my Department have been working remotely since March 2020. The current Government guidelines are that “unless it is absolutely essential for an employee to attend in person, they should work from home”. We will continue to follow the public health advice as it continues to evolve and the return to the office environment will be managed in accordance with the requirements under the Return to Work Safely Protocol.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of all my staff in their response to this crisis, their continued resilience in challenging circumstances in delivering vital services and supports to the transport, tourism and sports sectors.