Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
363. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans in place to create more opportunities in order that persons can work closer to home in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57202/25]
View answerThere has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote work amongst both employers and workers throughout the country since the pandemic. Acceptance of remote and hybrid working is high, and the evidence suggests that they are here to stay.
Remote working represents a significant opportunity for creating a more inclusive labour market and enhanced access to high-quality employment opportunities for workers in their home communities. This in turn provides employers with access to a larger talent pool, with remote and flexible working options representing powerful tools for staff recruitment and retention which improves labour market performance and regional economic balance overall.
The most recent data from the Central Statistics Office show that in the second quarter of 2025, over 1 million persons reported working from home at least some of the time. Within this, over half a million (555,500) persons were usually working from home (relative to a peak number of 774,300 in 2021 Q2). In the South-East Region which includes County Wexford, 65,900 people were working from home (usually or sometimes) in the second quarter of 2025, down from a peak of 73,800 in 2022Q1.
The most recent labour force survey results also illustrate that our policies are working with record numbers of people in employment. Nationally, there were 2.8 million persons at work in the second quarter of the year, an annual gain of 63,900 jobs. Analysis undertaken by the Department of Finance in 2025 highlights not only the scale of Ireland’s employment growth since the pandemic, but also its spread, with job growth recorded in every region, including the South-East, which has seen employment increase by nearly 21% since just before the pandemic. Remote working has contributed to this regional job growth, by allowing people in places such as County Wexford to access employment in sectors amenable to remote working such as ICT.
Initiatives such as the Work Life Balance Act 2023, which establishes the right to request remote working for all workers, and the National Remote Work Strategy, reflect the Government’s commitment to facilitating these changes in a way which maximises their economic, social and environmental benefits. Development and delivery of the National Remote 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.
In terms of Ireland’s evolving suite of policies and supports for remote working for 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 2023 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. Employees have recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission if the employer fails to comply with the legislation. Providing a right to request supports and facilitating remote working in Ireland, and at the same time, supports a productive and competitive business environment.
• The legislation provides for a review of the operation of the remote working provisions of the Act, not earlier than one year and not later than two years after the commencement of the Act. There are also provisions to conduct a review of the operation of the flexible working provisions of the Act and, as part of the review, consider whether the right to request a flexible working arrangement should be extended to all employees. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will be carrying out a review of the operation of the right to request remote working provisions of the Act by March 2026.
• The Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect was introduced April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission, followed by the introduction of an enhanced income tax deduction amounting to 30 percent of heat, electricity and broadband expenses for people working from home, announced in Budget 2022.
• My Department continues to update its Guidance for Working Remotely webpage for employees and employers to support the safe and successful adoption of remote working practices. 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. This initiative plays a vital role in supporting the National Remote Work Strategy by providing accessible, well-equipped remote working spaces throughout Ireland. With 393 hubs across the country, and plans to expand to 400 by the end of 2025, Connected Hubs is helping to build vibrant local economies, revitalising communities and offering diverse services to remote workers, SMEs, and start-ups. These hubs are essential in enhancing labour market participation and promoting sustainable, flexible work options in line with Government policy. 13 of these hubs are located in County Wexford.
• The Connected Hubs network is a key driver in Ireland’s push to support remote work and regional development. Aligned with policies like Our Rural Future and the forthcoming National Hub Strategy, the initiative empowers individuals to work remotely while staying rooted in their communities. Hubs provide essential infrastructure and services, from co-working spaces and conference facilities to specialist resources like podcast studios and maker spaces. Beyond workspace provision, they 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.
• A national marketing campaign – In Good Company – is being launched in October 2025 to encourage SMEs to adopt flexible hub-based working models. The 2025 National Hub Summit, taking place in November, will bring together all relevant parties from across government, enterprise, community development and the hub ecosystem.
• Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy sets ambitious targets for the continued development of the digital infrastructure which enables successful remote working in Ireland. These targets include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The Programme for Government sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.
The Government continues to monitor the impacts of new ways of working. For example, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is co-funding to the Working in Ireland Survey which is currently being carried out 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. This work is underway with the main outputs from the survey expected in 2026. 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. This research will inform wider debates around remote working policy.
Future trends in relation to remote and flexible working will be influenced by many factors, including the preferences of employers and employees, labour market conditions and the evolution of Ireland’s enterprise base. However, it is likely that remote work -underpinned by Government policy and investment – will continue to be a significant driver of job growth in communities across Ireland.
