Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any initiatives are being considered to promote hybrid work practices in private businesses in the context of worsening traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66787/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Government recognises the potential of remote and hybrid working to help tackle traffic congestion in our towns and cities, thereby reducing commuting times, improving work-life balance and contributing to the achievement of Ireland’s ambitions climate action goals. Remote and hybrid working also represent a significant opportunity for creating a more inclusive labour market and society, particularly for people with caring responsibilities, people returning to the workforce, older people and people with disabilities. This in turn provides employers with access to a larger talent pool, with remote and hybrid options representing powerful tools for staff recruitment and retention which improves labour market and economic performance overall.

The most recent data from the Central Statistics Office show that in the third quarter of 2025, nearly a million persons reported working from home at least some of the time. Within this, over half a million (557,800) persons were usually working from home (down from a peak of 846,700 in Q1 2021). There were 430,000 persons sometimes working at home in Q3 2025 (up relative to 400,500 a year previously).

The Work Life Balance Act 2023, which establishes the right to request remote working for all workers and initiatives such as the National Remote Work Strategy, reflect the Government’s commitment to facilitating remote and hybrid working in ways which maximise their economic, social and environmental benefits. Development and delivery of the 15 actions outlined the Strategy was overseen by the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group, based in my Department.

Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, re-affirms this commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers across all sectors.

In terms of Ireland’s evolving suite of policies and supports for remote and flexible work practices employees and employers, I would highlight the following:

• The right to request a remote working arrangement for all employees was commenced through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 20723 on 6 March 2024. Employers are obliged to have regard to the Code of Practice and the other requirements of the Act when considering requests for remote working. Providing a right to request supports and facilitates remote working in Ireland and brings clarity to the process of making and processing such requests for both businesses and employers.
• My Department recently commended a review of the working of the Work Life Balance Act, and as part of this, Minister Dillon launched a public consultation on 18 November. The consultation is available on the Department’s website and will close on 9 December. A final report of the review will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in March 2026.
• The WRC published the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in 2021, while we introduced an enhanced income tax deduction for people working from home in Budget 2022.
• My Department continues to update the Guidance for Working Remotely website, which assists workers and organisations to implement remote and hybrid working practices in a safe and sustainable manner. In addition, the Government co-funds remote work skills training programmes, such as Leading and Hybrid Remote Teams provided by Laois Offaly ETB and Grow Remote, and The FORWARD Programme which provides SMEs personalised support to design, implement, and sustain effective remote work practices.
• The Government's commitment to promoting remote work is also evident through initiatives like the National Hub Network, facilitated by Connected Hubs. The Connected Hubs online platform was launched in May 2021 and is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. The platform provides hub owners and customers with a central, easy to use portal that offers and enables the booking of a range of services, particularly professional remote working spaces and meeting rooms.
• I am glad to report that we recently achieved our target of having 400 hubs across the country on-boarded to the Connected Hubs platform. Details of all the on-boarded hubs are available on the Connected Hubs website.
• Beyond workspace provision, hubs offer vital business supports such as mentoring, start-up accelerators, and sector-specific programmes. By promoting innovation and collaboration, Connected Hubs is shaping the future of work while contributing to balanced regional growth and sustainable development across Ireland, stimulating local economies and reducing congestion and emissions through reduced commuting.
• In 2021 and 2022 a new targeted scheme was implemented to support the development of facilities in hubs across Ireland. Almost €14 million in funding to some 200 projects was allocated via these 'Connected Hub Calls'.
• In addition, the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme was opened in 2022 to help raise awareness of the Connected Hubs platform and to encourage greater usage of hubs.
• A national marketing campaign – In Good Company – was launched in October 2025 to encourage SMEs to adopt flexible hub-based working models. This campaign builds on the awareness raising efforts of previous nationwide campaigns.
• I intend to launch the first National Hub Strategy shortly in collaboration with my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. This strategy was developed following extensive engagement with relevant stakeholders such as hub managers, local authorities, government departments and agencies. The strategy will present a series of actions to support the future development and sustainability of remote working and enterprise hubs and to increase digital opportunities for local communities across the hub network. In this context it is also of note that the Programme for Government includes a commitment for a further iteration of the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme
• Under the aegis of My Department, Enterprise Ireland collaborates with partners to ensure businesses can leverage Ireland’s expanding network of remote working hubs, which provide professional workspaces closer to home. Enterprise Ireland-funded enterprise centres complement the Connected Hubs network by providing incubation space, mentoring, and accelerator programmes for start-ups and scaling companies.
• More broadly, Enterprise Ireland acknowledges the growing importance of flexible and hybrid work arrangements in enhancing business competitiveness, attracting talent, and supporting sustainable growth and is actively assisting its private sector clients in adopting hybrid work models through strategic initiatives, funding programmes through:

- Leadership Development: Through programmes like Leadership 4 Growth and management training, Enterprise Ireland equips business leaders with the skills required to manage dispersed teams effectively and maintain productivity in hybrid environments.

- Innovation and Competitiveness: Enterprise Ireland’s RD&I funding encourages companies to adopt new technologies that enable flexible work arrangements, ensuring they remain competitive in global markets.

Future trends in relation to remote and flexible working are difficult to predict and will being influenced by many factors, including the preferences of employers and employees, labour market conditions and the evolution of Ireland’s enterprise base. However, I have am confident that remote and flexible working-underpinned by Government policy and investments- will be permanent features of working life in Ireland, with significant benefits across a range of economic, social and environmental indicators.

Finally, I understand the need to monitor the impacts of new ways of working. To this end, my Department is co-funding to the Working in Ireland Survey, undertaken by University College Dublin. This is the second iteration of the Survey, first undertaken in 2021, and aims to interview several thousand persons across Ireland about their experiences of working life - including remote working. I understand that the fieldwork has been completed and that we can expect research output in the coming months. In addition, the Department of Taoiseach has requested that the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertake research into the Evolution and Impact of Remote and Hybrid Working in Ireland. A working group has been established to oversee the research, which is expected be completed by mid-2026.

I think these pieces of research will be a useful input into the debate which will help inform the direction of remote working policy over the next few years.