Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
413. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will report on the progress of reviewing the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework as outlined in the Programme for Government. [14346/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Civil Service is committed to ensuring continued public access to high quality services supported by efficient and effective delivery models. In this context, ongoing assessment of the impact of blended working on organisations, the workforce and the public remain essential to ensuring that the Civil Service continues to lead by example.
Within the Civil Service, the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations provides strategic guidance to departments and offices, enabling them to design flexible arrangements tailored to their specific operational needs. The Framework also requires departments and offices to conduct ongoing reviews of their blended working policies, undertaken in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including employee representative groups at local level, to ensure that arrangements remain aligned with service delivery requirements and organisational objectives. The Blended Working Evaluation Model supports this process by providing an evidence-based approach to assessing impact and identifying areas for improvement.
At national level, policy attention to the evolution of remote and blended working has increased. In 2025, the Department of the Taoiseach asked the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) to undertake research on the development and impact of remote and blended working in Ireland. The objective of this work is to develop an evidence based and stakeholder informed understanding of how remote and blended arrangements have affected employers, employees, the economy, society and the environment since 2020. A multi stakeholder NESC working group is underway and is scheduled to conclude its work in June 2026. This research will provide up to date evidence to guide future national policy direction on remote working.
