Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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143. To ask the Taoiseach 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; and the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied). [41963/21]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Taoiseach the steps being taken to facilitate remote working within his Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions. [42717/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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145. To ask the Taoiseach the way in which his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42749/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.

Since March 2020, in line with public health advice, many of the staff in my Department have been working from home with the exception of staff supporting the essential operation of Government Buildings to support the work of the Taoiseach and Government during this period. A significant proportion of staff already had remote access to Departmental systems through mobile devices. Since March 2020, the Department has also facilitated requests from a small number of staff to bring certain office equipment home on a temporary basis, such as office chairs and some computer equipment at no additional cost to the Department.

Like all Government Departments and Offices, my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for continued remote working and a gradual return to the office for Civil Service Departments from the 20th September having regard to individual operational arrangements. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, the Department will finalise and progressively roll-out its blended working policy for the longer-term which will be guided by the Central Policy Framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service currently being finalised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.