Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total number of persons who are employed by his Department; the number who are currently working remotely; and the estimated number of persons in his Department who ordinarily worked from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33973/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under Ag Obair Le Chéile – a comprehensive action plan for 2022 arising from our Statement of Strategy Le Chéile 23- my Department is committed to developing its organisational capacity and invest in staff to ensure they are equipped to meet future challenges. Embracing and implementing a Blended Working policy is part of my Department's key strategic actions and represents an opportunity to transform how the Department works and delivers results for the citizen. It is envisaged that Blended Working will facilitate and drive the Department and staff to deliver on the Department's vision as set out in our Statement of Strategy Le Chéile 23for a climate neutral, sustainable and digitally connected Ireland.

There were 490 staff employed by my Department on 31 May 2022, with a 478.08 full time equivalent.

From 16 March 2020 staff were encouraged to work remotely to the greatest degree possible in line with public health restrictions. As public health guidance evolved, working arrangements changed with some staff working from the offices at times when urgent business needs required and public health guidance allowed. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our staff while maintaining public services in the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic was paramount.

Following engagement with staff, my Department began new working arrangements to facilitate a transition to Blended Working on 21 March 2022. Staff are encouraged to work remotely at home for 2 days each week and 2 days from the Department’s offices. The fifth day is discretionary, and staff may either work from home or from the office based on the business needs of the Department. The working arrangements apply to all staff regardless of assigned office location, however, in line with business needs, there are a small number of roles where blended working is not feasible and staff work fully on site. In general, fully remote working is not available unless under medical or reasonable accommodation needs, in line with medical guidance. To ensure the health and safety of all staff when working from home and in the office, ergonomics training and assessments have been made available and the working arrangements are supported by comprehensive training, guidance and communications. These working arrangements will remain in place until September when the Department's Blended working policy will be rolled out, in line with the Civil Service Framework for Blended Working, published 31 March 2022.