959. 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. [54879/26]

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 first quarter of 2026, nearly a million persons reported working from home at least some of the time. Within this, over half a million (525,200) persons were usually working from home. In the South-East Region which includes County Wexford, 65,300 people were working from home at least some of the time in the first quarter of 2026.

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. The legislation is accompanied by a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Code of Practice which provides practical guidance for employers and employees on how to comply with the legislation.

• Under the Act, employers and employees are obliged to have regard to the Code of Practice when considering applications for remote working arrangements. The Act also contains an obligation on the employer to consider both their needs and their employees’ needs when considering a request for a remote working arrangement. As required by the legislation, my Department published a review of the operation of the right to request remote working legislation in March 2026.

• The review found that the legislation is highly effective in practice when used, with almost all (94%) of those using their right to request remote work being approved either fully (61%) or partially (33%). However, the report highlights that public awareness of the legislative right remains low, with fewer than half of employees aware of their right to request remote work. Awareness is particularly low in rural areas, and knowledge of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Code of Practice on the right to request remote work is lower still.

• The review makes a number of specific recommendations to further improve the effectiveness and uptake of the legislation, including greater awareness and guidance, will now be put in place to underpin the Government’s continued support for a balanced approach to remote working which benefits employees, employers and communities. As a result, my Department launched a targeted national information campaign to raise awareness of the right to request remote working. The WRC has also been requested to revise and strengthen the Code of Practice and to consider a range of elements identified in the review when doing so.

• The Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect was introduced April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission. This was 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. This was put on statutory basis 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. The platform is managed by the Western Development Commission in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

• With over 400 hubs across the country live on the platform, 29 of which are in County Wexford, 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.

• 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.

• Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy sets ambitious targets for the continued development of the digital infrastructure which underpins 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 has been 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 job quality, the impacts of Artificial Intelligence, work-life balance and remote working. I understand the fieldwork for this survey has been completed, and outputs will be released over the coming months.

In addition, the Department of Taoiseach 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 is looking at a range of social and environmental impacts of remote working. The research will be completed in the near future. These pieces of research will really help inform discussion of the future direction of remote working policy in Ireland.

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 – will continue to be a significant driver of job growth in communities across Ireland.