Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As both Deputies Durkan and Bruton will be aware, the digital transition fund, administered by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, aims to increase the digitisation of all businesses in respect of products, processes, supply chains and business models. It seeks to help companies at all stages of their digital journey, from simply going online, in the first instance, to using digital technologies to develop new markets and business models.

In recent months, my Department has supported the roll-out of the Department of enterprise's digital portal to support the transition fund, in addition to the €1 million I was pleased to announce in budget 2024 to bolster Skillnet Ireland's capacity to support industry digitisation. For the first time ever, we are going to launch an SME incentivisation scheme, with €1 million to help small businesses begin to upskill and reskill in the areas of digital transition and climate transition. The pilot will aim to boost participation in lifelong learning in the small and medium enterprise sector and is anticipated to be up and running later this year.

Skillnet Ireland's already-extensive work in this space is impressive and I thank the agency for it. It is working to address the twin challenges of our time, namely, the green and digital transitions. In total, more than 19,200 workers benefited from sustainability in digital transformation upskilling programmes in 2022. The agency has a series of targeted initiatives, including the climate ready academy, the innovation exchange and its industry- and region-specific business networks, each with its own objectives. Through its national schemes and dedicated digital focus networks, Skillnet Ireland is also supporting our national digital strategy by delivering increased upskilling and talent development initiatives needed to accelerate high-level digital skills in new and emerging technologies and to help achieve the EU target of 90% of our small and medium enterprises having basic digital intensity by 2030. My Department will continue to work closely with Skillnet Ireland this year to further strengthen its already-significant contribution in these areas.

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