Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to facilitate remote working of civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to make remote working an option for persons working in the civil and public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55673/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 103 together.

You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working.

Furthermore, In July, 2021 the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service. The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working for the future that can provide flexibility to both employees and their employers in a manner that supports the continued delivery of high quality services to Government, the public and business while providing employees, where appropriate, with choice and opportunity.

Remote working in the Civil Service, post pandemic, will be facilitated on a blended basis. In this context, Officials in my Department have been working with, and continue to work with employers across the Civil and Public Service to develop a Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service. This Framework focuses on the longer-term approach to remote working in the sector and can assist in providing a consistent approach across the wider public sector.

The Framework will be finalised over the coming weeks, following engagement with employee representatives. When this engagement has concluded, and the Framework has been agreed with the Civil Service Management Board, it will be rolled out to all civil service organisations. The Framework will inform the development of organisational blended working policies which will be tailored to meet the specific requirements of each Department/Office.