Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of any planned changes to remote working arrangements applying to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6691/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to ensuring a positive and productive working environment, and to sustaining strong standards of performance and delivery on our high level goals for the people we serve at home and abroad.

My Department’s Blended Working at HQ policy was launched in September 2022, and is framed within the context of the broader Civil Service Policy on Blended Working, published in March 2022. Under the DFA policy, all officers approved for a blended working arrangement, are expected to attend the office at least 50% of the time, over a four week period.

A comprehensive review of the operation of blended working across HQ offices was finalised in March 2024, and shared with all officers. Among the conclusions of the review were that remote working arrangements in respect of required office attendance were being implemented in an effective way, enabling the Department to deliver on high level goals, to meet the needs of the people we serve, while also meeting the needs of staff.

My Department is committed to expanding available options for blended working while taking account of business needs. As the majority of the officers in the Passport Service currently work in the office full-time, the Department is actively working to increase the number of blended working opportunities within the Passport Service going forward.

Although the implementation of blended working arrangements will remain under ongoing review, there are no other planned changes at this time.