384. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he supports the wider adoption of remote and flexible working and ensure security for those with remote and flexible work arrangements against sudden rescinding of these arrangements without a business reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45934/26]

There has been a lasting shift in attitudes towards remote working in recent years. Central Statistics Office data shows that nearly one million people were working from home, either usually or sometimes, in the first quarter of 2026.

The Government is committed to facilitating remote and flexible working in a way which maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, re-affirms this commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers.

Ireland was among the first in the EU to introduce a right to request remote working and this was commenced for all workers through the Work Life Balance Act in March 2024.

Under the Act, employers are obliged to formally consider and respond to requests for remote working arrangements. However, Government has been consistently clear that it cannot determine or dictate to employers which elements of their operations can or should be conducted remotely or on site. Providing a right to request strikes the right balance between flexibility and the need for businesses to remain competitive, profitable and viable.

As you may be aware, my Department recently concluded a statutory review of the operation of the right to request remote working legislation and a report of the review was laid before the Houses on the 5th of March this year.

The review found that when used, the legislation works effectively. The majority of requests (94%) are approved either fully or partially, demonstrating that the legislation can facilitate compromise. The level of administrative burden was also reported to be low.

However, a key finding is that the challenge is awareness, with fewer than half of employees being aware of their right to request remote working.

To address this finding and others identified by the review, my Department will implement recommendations from the review, including a national information campaign to drive awareness and encourage increased use of the legislation. We will also request that the Workplace Relations Commission revise the Code of Practice on remote working to support use of the legislation.

Remote working is further supported by Government through the National Remote Work Strategy, an enhanced income tax deduction for people working from home and investment in Ireland’s national network of remote working hubs and broadband infrastructure.  The Department of the Taoiseach has also commissioned NESC to do further work on remote working.

Of course, remote working isn't the only workplace flexibility the Government supports. In January this year, my Department also approved a revised Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working, promoting flexible working arrangements and supporting an inclusive and dynamic labour market.

I understand that the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality will also be conducting a review of the flexible working provisions of the Work Life Balance Act in the coming months.

Through these actions, Government will continue to facilitate remote and flexible working arrangements in Ireland.