Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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647. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons employed by her Department; the number who currently work remotely; and the estimated number of persons in her Department who ordinarily worked from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33982/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The total number of persons employed by my Department as at 30 April, 2022 is 6,781, which includes staff on temporary contract.

The number of staff who have been working remotely across business areas of my Department since March 2020 has been approximately 50% of the total staffing number. This figure will have changed in more recent months as restrictions have lifted, permitting more on site and in-person engagement. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, staff working remotely would have been very infrequent.

My Department will shortly implement a formal blended working policy and staff may apply for a hybrid working pattern with attendance both in the office and remotely, subject to role suitability and other conditions.