Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Last week the Government launched the new National Digital Strategy called Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework. It sets out a high-level framework to support our ambition for Ireland to be a digital leader, at the heart of European and global digital developments, it has four main dimensions:

- Digital transformation of business

- Digital infrastructure

- Skills

- Digitalisation of Public Services

Throughout we have ensured our citizens and businesses are at the heart of the Strategy.

Through this new Strategy, we will drive and enable the digital transition, helping to maximise the well-being of our citizens, and the efficiency of our public services, the productivity and innovation of businesses, as well as our overall competitiveness and sustainability.

We are determined to help businesses to significantly advance their digital transformation, in particular SMEs; to sustain Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for leading digital enterprises; and to maximise the benefits of the digital transition for the wider ecosystem.

For businesses, there are a number of key deliverables that my Department will have responsibility for, including:

- Developing a comprehensive programme to drive digitalisation across enterprise including funding from the €85 million Digital Transition Fund under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan);

- Raising awareness and providing advice and assistance to SMEs, by working with enterprise agencies;

- Supporting the development of workforce skills in SMEs to support digital adoption, including promoting the benefits of workplace training; and

- Developing and enhancing digital platforms for the delivery of the Local Enterprise Offices’ supports.

A key priority for me is to ensure the needs and voices of enterprise are heard, and in the coming weeks I will establish and chair the new Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum to inform and assist Government's work in this area.

For citizens and wider society, the benefits from this Strategy include:

- The increased use of remote working;

- Increased connectivity and digital infrastructure, including the provision of a Gigabit network by 2028 and 5G coverage by 2030;

- Increasing the share of adults in Ireland with at least basic digital skills to 80% by 2030.

We want to ensure that all citizens across society can engage with and benefit from digitalisation.

We will also continue to build a strong, well-resourced network of regulators to effectively oversee and enforce digital regulations, which will simultaneously ensure the safety of our citizens and promote innovation and progress.