Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Last year as a response to COVID-19, my Department launched a Public Consultation on Remote Work Guidance and created a new guidance webpage for employers and employees. This webpage brings together all State guidance on remote work into one place and includes an employer checklist outlining all the relevant considerations to be undertaken for remote working in the longer term - and can be accessed online at

In January of this year my Department published Ireland’s first National Remote Work Strategy. The Strategy will ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The report is built on three pillars:

1. Create a Conducive Environment

2. Develop and Leverage Remote Work Infrastructure

3. Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework

Under these pillars there are 15 actions to be delivered in 2021 to progress remote working into the future.

The Government, via the National Remote Working Strategy, has committed to legislate to provide employees the right to request remote working. On 1st April, the Tánaiste launched a public consultation on this plan and I would encourage employers and employees alike to make their views known. The closing date for submissions is Friday 7th May.

On 29th April, my colleague Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, launched a new €5m Connected Hubs Fund to support the development of Ireland’s first national network of remote working hubs. The Fund will expand existing hub facilities, providing additional hot desks, office spaces and meeting rooms for remote working. The Connected Hubs Fund will support the key objectives of Our Rural Future – the Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland. Capital Grants provided will range from €10,000 to €250,000.

Government is also investing significantly in the development of new hubs through schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.