David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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218. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18176/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In July 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service. This statement committed the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working that could provide flexibility to both employees and their employers in a manner that supports the continued delivery of high quality services.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has worked with employers and unions to develop a central Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service and this was published on the 31 March by Minister McGrath. This Framework allows Departments to develop their own policies with the flexibility to meet their own business needs and service delivery functions.

Now that the Framework has been agreed, my Department will continue work on developing its own Blended Working Policy, which I hope will be finalised shortly in consultation with stakeholders, including with local staff representatives. In the meantime, my Department will continue with its transitional arrangements as we move towards formal blended working arrangements.