James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the steps her Department is taking to improve data collection and database construction in anticipation of the increased data processing capacity that artificial intelligence adoption entails; if she will outline the logic behind their approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18356/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The 2024-27 Data Strategy of the Department of Education focuses particularly on data governance, data culture and literacy, data quality and data use, aiming to build strong data foundations across the department. Leveraging advances in technology, such as AI and advanced analytics, relies primarily on having processes in place to manage data quality. Among the high-level actions outlined in the strategy is the development of a data quality monitoring framework to further enhance current processes.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will identify any projects which the Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18373/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education has no projects underway with CeADAR.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will identify any projects which a body under the aegis of her Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; if she will send this question to the bodies for direct response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18391/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Aegis bodies have been provided with the question and have been advised to respond directly to the Deputy.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will specify the specific policy areas where the Department is examining future use of AI; if she will identify what entities the Department is working with, public or private, in relation to this examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18408/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department continues to review and follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform on the use of Artificial Intelligence.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated Implementation Plan set out the Departments policy on embedding the use of digital technology in teaching and learning. Pillar 3 of the Strategy sets out the commitment to consider and take account of emerging trends in the area of digital technologies in education and to develop appropriate and relevant guidance when required.

To this end the Department of Education with the support of Oide Technology in Education, is currently developing guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning. It is intended that this guidance will be published and circulated to schools shortly.

The guidance will provide information on the opportunities and risks associated with the use of AI and highlight what should be taken into consideration to inform schools and teachers on AI in education, and when considering the use of AI, to do so in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Currently, information for schools on AI in education can be found on the OIDE Technology in Education (OIDE TiE) website on their dedicated AI hub. This includes resources developed through participation by OIDE-TiE in an EU project, AI4T, the EU Ethical Guidelines for Using AI in Teaching & Learning, and the UNESCO Guidance for generative AI in education and research. OIDE-TiE will continue to develop resources to support teachers, and teachers already engage with such professional learning supports as part of their ongoing teaching practice.

Formal approval has issued from the EU Commission for a multi-country Technical Support Instrument (TSI) “Project Futureproof Education: Supporting schools in the AI evolution” with six partner jurisdictions, including Ireland.

This project will support the development of strategies and tools for AI implementation in school education, providing guidance and tools to schools for ethical AI usage, enhancing digital literacy and inclusivity.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will identify any AI training offered to people working in the Department; the level of take-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18425/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not offered AI Training to staff working in the Department, as AI is not utilised to perform their duty. Officials in my Department are preparing a course on AI that will be made available to all staff once complete.

My Department continues to review and follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform on the use of Artificial Intelligence.

A proof of concept to examine if AI technologies could support Departmental staff in responding to customer queries was completed. The proof of concept focused on the potential for using AI technologies to analyse large volumes of publicly available information.

A limited trial is underway by my Communications Department to assess the opportunity for productivity gains of AI services which includes the transcription of public audio recordings to text, grammar and spelling assistance, translation of public information, and editing text in plain English. All text is reviewed and verified by a human.

My Department has no AI systems in place that processes citizens information.

My Department will continue to assess the suitability of AI on a solution by solution basis.