Dr. Dónal Fitzpatrick:

I thank the Deputy. My colleague, Dr. Hartney, earlier mentioned universal design and the bell curve. We use a process, and it has been extensively used in other surveys, whereby we over-sample the two ends of the bell curve. Everyone in the centre is average. At the two ends of the curve are where people with disabilities and older people reside. That is where we need to get data to input into AI tools. That would give a better understanding of what is happening out there. At the moment, all the information that is gathered is within the 80% in the centre of the bell curve. I see that as a key initiative. The Government's AI canvas score card has been developed. If that tool is developed in finer granular detail, it would have a major impact for Ireland as to how to make AI tools more accessible.

To return briefly to the Deputy's original point, we are working closely with the Office of Government Procurement, OGP. A critical change in making products more accessible and affordable in the United States was getting accessibility built into procurement. At present, the OGP is developing a public procurement strategy. We have several engagements with it to ensure accessibility and universal design are included as key components. If we can buy in bulk, a Department making accessibility a core requirement for any product or service we want to procure will have a big impact on the wider industry.