Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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271. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in her Department or bodies under the aegis of her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [41961/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible.To facilitate remote working, the Department provided laptops and mobile phones to staff where required and also carried out an home working health and safety assessment.The Department did not contribute to wifi costs.  

An interim blended working policy is currently under development for staff of the Department to support a combination of office and remote working.A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised over the coming months.

Below, set out in tabular form, is a summary of costs.ICT costs refer to the provision of laptops and telephony costs refer to the provision of mobile phones.

Included also, are the costs gathered and submitted to my Department in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department.

* includes ongoing mobile phone costs arising prior to Covid 19 as part of day-to-day business.  

RTÉ and TG4 have advised that they will respond directly to the Deputy.