Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3715/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently examining the potential future use of A.I. technologies. This has involved active participation in several stakeholder groups, providing observations to The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the EU AI Act drafts and its implementation.

An A.I. Chatbot on the MyGovID platform is in use, providing real-time advice to customers on how best to use the MyGovID service, with approximate monthly charges of €50. As part of an internal review of Microsoft Office services in the Department, a small number of users are temporarily piloting an upgrade, which includes limited integration of A.I tools within the suite as standard.

No specific project funding for A.I. was allocated in 2024 or for 2025. The potential use of A.I. is under consideration, subject to an assessment of need, development of a business case and approval of a proof of concept. Funding allocated for any A.I. project would be considered in conjunction with the other business needs and priorities of the Department and in accordance with procurement procedures.

The Department will continue to examine the merits of A.I. suitability for departmental needs.