Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department and each body and agency under the remit of his Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25691/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department formally launched its Blended Working policy in July 2022, which was developed in line with the central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. Under the Blended Working policy, staff of my Department with suitable roles, performance and remote workstations may apply for a blended working arrangement. 92% of all staff eligible to apply for Blended Working have entered into blended working arrangements since 2022.

The blended working model used in my Department specifies 3 days per week working in the office and 2 days per week working from home, with a flexible option of 2 days per week in the office and 3 days per week working from home. This flexibility is at the discretion of the Head of Business Unit and takes account of business needs to ensure service delivery and support organisational cohesion. The Blended Working Framework does not allow for fully remote work; consequently 5 days per week working from home arrangements are not available in my Department.

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email addresses in this regard are set out in the table below: