David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18171/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was pleased to publish, along with Minister of State Ossian Smyth, the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework on Thursday 31^stMarch.

This Framework provides direction to individual Departments on the development of their own tailored Blended Working policies, and ensures a consistency of approach across the Civil Service.

This new model of working marks another feature of the Civil Service as an employer of choice.

Each individual Department can now use this Framework to shape their own policy, striking the right balance of blended working appropriate to local business needs, and to continue to deliver high quality services to Government, the public and business.

My own Department is currently developing our local policy, and once complete, it will be published. It will follow the template available in the Civil Service Blended Working Framework, which is now publicly available.

In the interim, and in line with current public health guidelines, we are continuing with a phased return to onsite working, with most Department employees returning to a minimum of 3 days of onsite working with effect from Monday 4^thApril. As has been the case since restrictions were lifted, the staff in my Department also have the choice to work onsite full-time if they wish. Should public health advice change at any point, the Department will adjust its response accordingly.