Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in the national remote work strategy; when it is expected to implement any recommendations from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45390/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15^th, 2021. The Strategy identified 15 actions to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.

My Department led the implementation of the Strategy’s actions through an Interdepartmental Group. The Interdepartmental Group met four times in 2021 and has continued to meet to share information during 2022. The Group will next meet in November. There has been significant progress in implementing the actions outlined in the Strategy which will facilitate remote working for employers and employees both now and into the future. I would highlight the following:

- On 25th January, the Government approved the priority drafting of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2022. The new law will set out a clear legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing such a request can be based. The Bill commenced pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 9^thFebruary, with the Committee’s final report being published on 7^thJuly. The Government is currently considering the Committee’s recommendations. The Government Bill will be published later this year and it is intended that it be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible thereafter.

- The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission.

- In Budget 2022, an enhanced income tax deduction for people working from home was announced. It amounts to 30 percent of the cost of vouched expenses for heat, electricity and broadband.

- The Government is investing heavily in remote work infrastructure throughout the country to ensure that communities across Ireland are in a position to benefit from the opportunities presented by increased remote working.

- ConnectedHubs.ie- Ireland’s national digital hub network- was launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development in May 2021. The ConnectedHubs.ie platform will ultimately link over 400 hubs throughout our country. 281 hubs have been onboarded onto the platform to date with this number increasing on an ongoing basis.

- In June, €5m in funding was allocated to 81 projects across the country through the 2022 Connected Hubs Call. This follows the award of almost €9m in funding allocated to 117 projects via the 2021 Connected Hubs Call.

- To date, a total of approximately €100m has been provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development through its various funding streams to support the development of remote working infrastructure across the country. This includes €76 million in funding for projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), many of which involved the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as enterprise centres and co-working hubs.

- My Department launched new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 during spring 2022. The plans include a strong focus on promoting remote working opportunities and investing in infrastructures across the nine regions.

- While National Broadband Plan has been impacted negatively by COVID-19, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is continuing to engage with National Broadband Ireland to address the delays that have arisen. As a result of actions taken by NBI, the project has been building momentum and month on month increases in Premises Passed are being recorded. This is expected to continue this year and beyond.

- The Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework was published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on March 31st, 2022, which will help deliver the Programme for Government commitment to move to 20% remote/home working across the sector.

- Ongoing remote work promotion and guidance including advice for employers and employees on best practice, health and safety, equality and skills by a range of agencies including the Health and Safety Authority, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Skillnet Ireland and local Education and Training Boards.

- My Department is continuing to develop and promote its Guidance for Working Remotely webpage. This webpage acts as a central access point for employers and employees and brings together the existing State guidance, legislation and advice on remote work into one place. The webpage is a live resource and is updated regularly. The webpage includes an Employer Checklist to provide employers with a quick way to successfully navigate the adoption of remote working arrangements.

- On May 18th, an Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) research paper was published which found that remote working is likely to have a positive impact on the Irish economy and society. The paper, “An Evaluation of the Impacts of Remote Working” examines the impact of remote working on several key policy areas, finding positive effects on productivity, the environment, regional development, private finances, and labour market participation.