Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to Wi-Fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41962/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department has robustly facilitated remote working for staff in roles across all office locations, where feasible, over the last 18 months. We have been particularly conscious of the need to minimise the pressure on the public transport system to support essential workers travelling safely. This has included the supply of IT equipment to enable an effective and productive working environment at home for our people. Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. With restrictions now lifting, plans are being implemented to enable staff to transition to a mix of working together in the office while maintaining an element of working from home, gradually and safely, until a blended working scheme is in place

A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.

My Department will develop its own Blended Working arrangements in line with the central policy framework. Once arrangements have been finalised, Officers of the Department will be invited to apply.

To date, the provision of laptops, desktop computers and contributions to Wi-Fi costs or phone-related expenses to facilitate remote working has generated a total cost of €97,772.22. The supply of other equipment, such as office chairs and desks, has generated a total cost of €13,508.79.