Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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464. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will examine working arrangements for public sector staff as specified in Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during Covid-19 document published by his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32828/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Government Departments and Offices have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health requirements by introducing new measures of flexibility in working arrangements.

Civil Service Departments and Offices have been advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as standard practice across the public service during COVID-19, to consider all forms of flexible working including:

- working from home where possible

- working adjusted hours and providing for alternative arrangements where possible, including flexible shifts, staggered hours, wider opening hours including weekend work, both for those working from home and when workplace attendance is required

Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on normal working arrangements, the operation of traditional flexi-time and attendance management rules do not support the flexible arrangements and agility required during this extraordinary situation. These arrangements were temporarily suspended in April 2020 to facilitate the required new ways of working across the public service. Many public servants are still working remotely as part of these temporary measures and in order to support public health measures rather than under a long term remote working strategy.

As more public servants have returned to their workplaces over recent months, flexi-time arrangements were re-introduced, with effect from 24 August 2020, for those employees who are attending the work premises on their pre-COVID arrangements.

Any further changes to the suspension of flexi for other civil and public servants will be considered in the wider context of the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to COVID-19 is reviewed on a weekly basis and officials in the Department consult with both civil and public service employers and union representatives in this regard.