Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Government announced its intention to produce another digital strategy in its Action Plan for Jobs in 2018. We are agreed it is meant to maximise the economic and societal benefits that arise from ongoing digitalisation. It is meant to be citizen focused and to set out how we are all meant to embrace digital advances and provide for a national discussion on how it will impact on the people of Ireland well into the future. Given recent reports, the strategy cannot be done quickly enough. It seems it has infiltrated all of our lives far quicker and deeper than anyone could have anticipated. Throughout the European Union, 66% of the labour force has basic digital skills whereas in Ireland it is 53%. A total of 50% of Ireland's labour force has above basic digital skills but in the European Union it is 63%. How will the Government address what is, essentially, a digital literacy gap? Is the Government assessing how job displacement will be catered for? Is the Government planning to diversify courses and target workers most at risk? Will these courses be available free of charge to workers?

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