Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence 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. [3703/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with the National AI strategy and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, my Department continues to keep the use of artificial intelligence for business purposes under review.

My Department's core IT infrastructure is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' shared service. I have been advised by OGCIO that they have deployed AI powered security tools as part of the overall security posture.

I can confirm that no funding was spent in the past fiscal year by my Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research. The use of artificial intelligence, as with all enabling technologies, will be considered on a solution by solution basis. Any such considerations will be discussed and a risk assessment conducted as appropriate.