A non-profit group advocating for remote workers has called for a body to be set up to promote remote working in Ireland.
It comes after the first meeting of an All-Party Group on Remote Work took place in Leinster House yesterday.
Grow Remote was set up in 2018 to promote remote working in Ireland.
General Manager John Evoy said remote working could solve social, economic and environmental problems if it is done right.
He said that having no commute not only reduces emissions, but also allows people more time to invest in themselves.
Although Grow Remote was set up before the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Evoy said remote working has become more prominent since 2020.
Rebecca Bury began to work remotely during the pandemic and now works fully remote from her family home in Ashford, Co Wicklow, and said being able to work remotely "has been utterly life changing."
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"I've no commute, I'm on hand for my elderly parents and working from anywhere means I can work from Paris," Ms Bury said.
On a day-to-day level, Ms Bury said working remotely means she starts the day with "no stress."
"I get to walk the dog in the morning, I get to go to the gym and I'm arriving to my work in a really good place.
"I'm way more efficient, I get more done in my day."
Ms Bury lived in Dublin with her partner during the pandemic but said that moving back to her home town has allowed her to reconnect with her community.
"People say that you need to go to the office for connection and community, but actually I think we're missing a trick.
"The community is right here on our doorstep.
"I think there's such an opportunity to really make connection and build communities in the local area that maybe you wouldn't otherwise do if you were just living here, commuting to Dublin five days a week and then only seeing your friends at the weekends."
Ms Bury set up a hub for remote workers in her local area under the Grow Remote umbrella for her fellow remote workers to meet others and socialise.
Maeve McElwee, Executive Director of Employer Relations at Ibec, said: "Most employers are endeavouring to strike the right balance between offering flexible working, with the operational needs of their business, preserving company culture, and supporting inexperienced and new colleagues.
"While there has been growing trend of more in person attendance, employers are continuing to offer remote and hybrid working where it suits the needs of employees and the business."
