Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development to discuss Remote and Blended Work and Community Hubs

The Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, 11 February, to discuss Remote and Blended Work and Community Hubs.

The meeting at 9:30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from representatives from Grow Remote, Western Development Commission (WDC) and University of Galway.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy John Paul O’Shea said: “While remote working became widespread as an emergency measure during the Covid 19 pandemic, it has now become a accepted feature of working in Ireland. Remote and blending working and the development of community hubs can have a key role in driving rural and regional development, allowing people to access high quality employment while living outside of traditional large urban employment centres.

“The Committee looks forward to examining the possibilities offered by Remote and Blended Work and Community Hubs and related matters with our stakeholders. Grow Remote is a community‑driven organisation dedicated to making remote and flexible work accessible to people and communities everywhere; the Western Development Commission is a statutory regional development agency established to promote the social and economic advancement of Ireland’s Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare; and the University of Galway is a national research partner with the WDC in understanding Ireland’s transition to remote and hybrid working.”

The Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.