“I think that will be the best mix from a health service perspective we will see for some time yet.”
HSE CEO Paul Reid has said a mix of remote and office working by employees in Ireland will be the best option “for some time yet”.
His comments come after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that office work may be allowed to resume by August.
Varadkar stated on Tuesday he would ask the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to consider a phased return for earlier than expected.
Speaking about the Tánaiste’s comments on Newstalk Breakfast, Reid said: “Well certainly if you look through June and July and August, our vaccination programme will continue at pace.
“If you look even now – three million vaccines administered, over two million people have had a first dose, 26% of the population are double vaccinated.”
Questioned if he would have any reservations regarding a return to offices, Reid answered: “Well I think the reality from us in the health service perspective, the more we get back to… the society that we had in 2019, the better if we can do it in a safe way.
“It’s a mental health issue for people as well and people at work is important for your own mental health – mixing with some other employees.”
He added: “But I think you’re always going to see a hybrid for the next good few months of some element of people getting to work and a continued element of people working at home.
“I think that will be the best mix from a health service perspective we will see for some time yet.”
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