James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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442. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the steps his Department is taking to improve data collection and database construction in anticipation of the increased data processing capacity that artificial intelligence adoption entails; if he will outline the logic behind their approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18366/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Given the type of work carried out by my Department the current potential for the use of AI with regard to our data is limited. The schemes and programmes operated by my Department do not involve large datasets or databases. Notwithstanding this, my Department places a strong emphasis on data management and is currently working on an information management project to bring greater consistency to data collection across our major schemes. This approach helps us ensure accurate and up to date information on the projects we fund.

The National AI Strategy outlines how technologies such as AI can open up opportunities to enhance the use of information through data analytics. These opportunities, and the adoption of any new technology within my Department will be based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. In that context, my Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies published on 1 June 2023.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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443. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will identify any projects which the Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18383/25]

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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444. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will identify any projects which a body under the aegis of his Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; if he will send this question to the bodies for direct response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18401/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together.

Developed by my Department, Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. As part of this policy, significant investment has been made to support remote working projects, in collaboration with local authorities and communities.

Artificial intelligence has added value to this investment. The Western Development (WDC) is one of four agencies under my Department's remit. The WDC has worked with CeADAR in the identification of optimal sites for locating remote hubs, through the ReLeafHubs project. CeADAR won a Smart Digital Award in 2024 for developing ReLeafHubs which helped reduce carbon emissions, support rural economies, and reimagine remote workspaces. The project also used artificial intelligence to help end-users find the most convenient hub.

There are three other agencies under my Department’s remit, Pobal, the Charities Regulator, and Water Safety Ireland. They have have not worked with CeADAR to date. My Department has no projects underway with CeADAR directly.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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445. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will specify the specific policy areas where the Department is examining future use of AI; if he will identify what entities the Department is working with, public or private, in relation to this examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18418/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Given the type of work carried out by my Department, while there may be a need to examine use of AI in the future, the current potential for its use would be very limited. As such, AI tools are not widely used in my Department and no policy areas are currently being examined for the future use of this technology.

My Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies published on 1 June 2023, and will continue to be informed by wider developments across the public sector.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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446. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will identify any AI training offered to people working in the Department; the level of take-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18435/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Given the type of work carried out by my Department the current potential uses of AI would be very limited. As such, training has not been provided to staff. The majority of staff training takes place through the One Learning platform, and I am informed that this platform will offer training in this area in the near future.