Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is any flexibility with remote working for those employed in the public service who have medical complications and who want to increase their hours of remote working and continue carrying out their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61504/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working.  In this context, my Department, in collaboration with Civil Service employers, Trade Unions and Staff Associations, has developed a Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service which was published in March 2022.  The Framework focuses on the longer-term approach to remote working in the Civil Service and has also been shared with Public Service employers with a view to providing a consistent approach across the wider public service.

The Framework provides broad strategic direction to individual organisations in the Civil Service to develop tailored policies on blended working that are appropriate to their business needs.  In developing their own blended working policies Civil Service organisations have the flexibility to determine matters such as the roles that are suitable for blended working and the proportion of time individual employees work remotely versus onsite.  Remote working will not be available to employees on a 100 percent basis as some physical attendance at workplaces will be required to facilitate face-to-face meetings, training and other key events deemed necessary by the employer.  Any requirements an employee may have for flexible working arrangements should be discussed directly with their employer.