Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The adoption of digital technologies by all businesses, in particular SMEs, is vital for our economic development and social well-being, and to ensure balanced regional development. Digitalisation can deliver a multitude of benefits including reduced costs and increased productivity, better products and services, market expansion and diversification, as well as enabling businesses to reduce their climate impact.

Ireland ranks the highest in the EU in the European Commission's 2023 State of the Digital Decade report for mobile broadband take-up, at 98% compared to an EU average of 87%. The availability of high speed, reliable, secure and sustainable digital connectivity will help us to work towards our economic and social ambitions, leading to more balanced regional development, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital transition, and supporting the green transition.

As outlined in the White Paper on Enterprise, sustained investment in digital infrastructure, including connectivity and cybersecurity, provide the foundations for the digital economy. It's clear that connectivity will be vital in achieving the targets for my own Department, namely 75% enterprise take-up of cloud, big data, and AI by 2030; and 90% of SMEs achieving a basic level of digital intensity by 2030.

To help businesses work towards digitalisation, my Department launched the Digital Transition Fund in 2022 as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Fund has been allocated €85 million over the period to 2026. Administered by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta through a variety of schemes, this fund is helping companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey, particularly SMEs.

The Department, Enterprise Ireland, and the LEO Centre of Excellence are working to examine how to broaden eligibility for digital funding schemes to increase access for businesses which are currently not eligible.

Digital Infrastructure is one of the four dimensions of the Government's National Digital Strategy, launched in February 2022. It is clear that a robust broadband infrastructure will be vital in reaching our National Digital Strategy targets, by enabling businesses across the country to take advantage of digital technologies and to increase sustainable employment.

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications published its Digital Connectivity Strategy in December 2022, which set out the targets that will be achieved by the telecommunications sector in providing digital connectivity across the State. It also identified the key enablers that will be implemented to ensure these targets are met.

We are making steady progress towards the EU's 2030 target of 100% fixed Fixed Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage, which we hope to meet two years early in 2028, and 5G coverage in all populated areas.

As part of the Digital Europe Programme, work is ongoing on Ireland’s network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). These hubs will support digital transformation for SMEs by encouraging the adoption of the latest advances in three key digital technologies: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and High-Performance Computing. There are four operational hubs in Ireland. These are CeADAR, FactoryxChange (FxC), DATA2SUSTAIN, and ENTIRE.

Work is also underway on the development of a new Digital Portal to help businesses to self-assess their digital needs as well as signposting to training, resources, and funding options. The Digital Portal will demystify digital and will assist businesses on the digital adoption journey.

In addition to facilitating the uptake of digital technologies, broadband connectivity facilitates remote working for employees. Government has also supported the creation of remote working hubs in locations throughout the country. In May 2021, the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) launched the National Hub Network and ConnectedHubs.ie platform. To date, the Government has invested over €150 million to support the establishment, improvement and sustainability of hubs and co-working facilities nationwide. Connected Hubs will ultimately link over 400 hubs and co-working facilities throughout the country by 2025, and to date 330 co-working hubs are up and running.

Digital connectivity will also enable the Government's policy priority of regional enterprise development. We now have nine new Regional Enterprise Plans in place, which will encourage collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the regional offering for enterprise and therefore create an environment for successful economic development, sustainable employment and growth across the country.