Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60485/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Cyber Security Strategy, published in 2019, is a five-year whole of government strategy aimed at enhancing the security and resilience of Government systems and critical national infrastructure. The Strategy sets out a range of collaborative measures to enhance the cyber security and resilience of public bodies, providers of essential services, businesses, and households, to support the continued development of the cyber security industry and research community, and to ensure Ireland plays an active role in the international discussions on the security and stability of a free and open cyberspace.  

I can report that good progress has been made in meeting the objectives of the strategy and in the completion of key actions to date. Of particular note is progress in the areas of: the Sensor Programme, a network across the systems of public bodies and other relevant constituents that has increased the ability of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to actively detect and defeat cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure and critical networks; the Cyber Security Baseline Standards for Public Sector Bodies, published by the NCSC, which provides organisation’s a practical tool to gauge their cyber security preparedness; the Pilot Junior Cycle Cyber Security Education Short Course, which has been recognised by participating schools as a helpful tool to promote awareness of cyber risks among pupils; and the participation in the annual European Cyber Security Month campaign, the joint efforts of the NCSC and the Garda Cyber Crime Bureau has delivered successful public awareness campaigns as part of the European Cyber Security Month in October of this year.  

At its publication in 2019, the Government indicated its intention to review the Strategy at its mid-point to assess progress and consider new initiatives to ensure delivery across all the measures outlined therein. In 2021, a Capacity Review of the NCSC conducted by external consultants also recommended that the Strategy be reviewed in recognition of the changed global cyber threat landscape and evolution of the EU legislative framework.  

This Mid-Term Review (MTR) is currently underway. The MTR consultation paper will be published shortly, inviting feedback and submissions from stakeholders and members of the public. This will be followed by several facilitated consultative webinars with relevant stakeholder groups. The MTR consultation paper provides a brief account of progress to date in delivering the measures under the 2019 Strategy and possible future measures for the remaining years of the Strategy.    

A draft review will be submitted to Government at the conclusion of the Mid-Term Review consultative process.