Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff in her Department who are working remotely on a permanent basis; the number working from home; the number working from a remote hub; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2043/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As at end December 2022, the number of staff from my Department working remotely on a permanent basis is zero. This is because the Department operates an annual application process for blended working arrangements.

The number of staff working a combination of a primary Department of Social Protection (DSP) office location and their home location is 3,924; the number working from a remote hub under the Connected Hubs Network is zero; the number working a combination of a primary DSP office location and another private address location is 61; the number working from a combination of a primary DSP office location and hub office of the Department is 12.

On 12th September 2022, my Department implemented a formal Blended Working Policy under which staff members were invited at that time to apply for a blended working arrangement and annually thereafter subject to business needs, role suitability and other criteria in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, which was published in March 2022.

The policy allows for a combination of working from a primary DSP office location and working remotely, either from a home location or possibly from a hub office of the Department where availability permits.

Prior to this and providing an essential service throughout the Pandemic, DSP staff worked both on site and remotely to deliver services to our customers with approximately 50% of the total staffing number onsite at any one time.

In line with business needs, it shall continue, following the introduction of the Blended Working Policy, to be necessary for staff providing front line customer services to do so in-person at primary office locations.