Éamon Ó Cuív Proposes Civil Service Co‑working Hubs for Remote Work
Éamon Ó Cuív urged a new form of decentralisation, proposing civil service co-working hubs to support remote working while preserving social interaction and creativity. He asked whether discussions had taken place with the OPW and other departments about using underutilised properties for such offices.
Proposal for co-working civil service hubs
He proposed civil service offices in existing premises around the country where staff from different departments could work. These hubs would be overseen by a principal officer and allow people to work remotely to departments near where they want to live.
Discussions and government response
The minister agreed that remote working will feature in the rural development plan and said co-working spaces specifically designed for public servants are being considered. The minister mentioned the need for suitable internet and IT security and said he had already spoken to another minister about the idea.
Benefits of social interaction and creativity
Éamon Ó Cuív argued that while working from home suits many, socialisation in a workplace is important for creativity and the exchange of ideas. He said he does not think working from home all the time is a good idea and favoured co-working over permanent homeworking.
Cultural example and practical suggestions
He cited the Anna McCarrick Centre in County Monaghan as an example of how shared routines - like artists dining together - promote connection and creativity. He also suggested that co-working facilities could include a space for an artist and be designed as supportive working environments for public servants.
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Minister, can I mention the D word? I know it was out of favour. It is called decentralisation. Yes. Now, as you know, decentralisation before was moving whole sections of departments. But an idea that I have is that we could have a different type of decentralisation, and that is that working from home is fine for a lot of people. But people need socialisation of work, and it is also important for the workplace that you have that. But rather than bringing people back to parent departments all the time, that we would have civil service offices, maybe using existing premises around the country, where people from different departments could work, which would be, for example, overseen by a principal officer and so on, where people could work remotely to departments all over the country near to where they want to live. Has any consideration been given of that? Has any discussion taken place? Have there been any discussions with the OPW on utilising maybe underutilised properties now because of the new regime? Because in a post-COVID world will not be the same as the pre-COVID world. Yes, I absolutely agree on that, and for that reason, under the rural development plan, there is going to be a big focus on remote working. Co-working is actually better. You need the social interaction. I have already spoken to Minister Michael McGrath on this matter. That we can look at co-working spaces, specifically designed for public servants, so they can go into a town that has that facility, kitted out, with the right internet connection, the right security in terms of the IT security that you need, and also it is a good working environment, so they can have that contact that they need, because I do not think working from home all the time is a good idea. I think you need to get out and it also encourages that creativity and that connection between different departments and ideas can thrive. I could talk all day about the Anna McCarrick Centre in County Monaghan because the guy that left that to the arts left one particular condition on it, that whenever the artists went about their business, writing books or painting, whatever they did all day, there was only one condition they had to adhere to. They had to have dinner in the evening together and I think that that is a connection where people can sit down together, have a bit of lunch, have a cup of coffee, it allows the exchange of ideas and it encourages creativity. I would also like to think that if we did design all these things we could also have a space for an artist in it all. But anyway, we will work on those things. Your final question?
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