James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the steps he is taking to cultivate investment in artificial intelligence in the context of his action plan for competitiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21722/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. The Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of AI.

Supporting AI innovation and businesses through policies, funding and incentives is a priority for Government.

Enterprise Ireland is the most active venture capital investor in Europe by deal count. The new Seed and Venture Capital Scheme, which has a record allocation of €250 million over five years, provides vital funding for Irish companies in their early stages of development. This 42% increase in funding over the existing Scheme will enable Enterprise Ireland to create larger funds that will be invested in Irish firms in key areas such as AI, but also green tech, life-sciences and others.

We have designated a European Digital Innovation Hub for AI, CeADAR based in UCD. CeADAR is Ireland’s National Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence. CeADAR acts as a bridge between the worlds of applied research and commercial deployment. Industry membership of CeADAR now totals 90 industry partners, ranging from multi-nationals to indigenous SMEs.

The 2025 Programme for Government sets out an overall commitment to harnessing the digital and AI revolution to deliver effective and modern public services and to grow the economy. Key digital commitments include:

• Updating the National Digital Strategy to bring together digital policy and regulatory responsibilities;
• Investing to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise for digital and data regulation and being a regulatory hub for companies operating across the EU Digital Single Market;
• Transforming our public services by applying the latest technologies and maximising the potential benefits of AI to better plan for and deliver services, through the establishment of a single digital unit; empowering people to access public services easily, whether online or in person;
• Ensuring the integration of digital services across Departments as an alternative user access channel, including through the Life Events approach and Digital Wallet;
• Specific sectoral commitments, in particular in Health (including an AI in Health Strategy), and Justice / Courts Service reform;
• Support the continued digitalisation of enterprise, including AI, to increase productivity;
• Ensure investment in, and provision of digital skills and literacy at all levels, including in AI and Quantum Computing;
• Digital Infrastructure commitments include continuing to deliver broadband and 5G, expansion of the Connected Hubs network, and commitments on Data Centres and data interconnections, as well as strengthening cyber security.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the measures his Department is taking to position Ireland as a leader in artificial intelligence, AI, as committed to in the programme for Government; if this includes targeted supports for SMEs with adopting AI tools, and whether a specific funding stream is being considered to support AI deployment and skills training. [21737/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A Refresh of Ireland's National AI Strategy was published in November 2024. The Strategy sets out a whole of government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of AI.

The Refresh builds on the solid foundations in place, continuing to emphasise the importance of trustworthy, person-centred AI development and use, while positioning Ireland as a leader in seizing AI's economic and societal benefits.

My Department has a particular focus on delivery of the actions within Strand 3, "Driving AI in Enterprise". Our priority is to drive AI adoption in small businesses with targeted supports through our agencies. One of the biggest opportunities around AI deployment is in bridging the productivity gap in our indigenous SMEs. Our ambition is to have 90% of SMEs to have achieved basic digital intensity and 75% of all enterprises to be using cloud, AI and big data by 2030.

There are various funding supports available, rather than one specific funding stream,. Targeted enterprise supports such as the Grow Digital Voucher from the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), are being promoted. The Grow Digital Voucher offers small and medium businesses with up to 50 employees financial support to embrace digital technology including AI. It offers funding of up to €5,000 to invest in software and training/IT configuration. It offers a good start to businesses to try new technologies. For most Irish SMEs, the best way to benefit from AI will be by purchasing an off-the shelf AI package. There is a wide range of AI applications that businesses can use to understand their customers better, to transform their business processes, and to improve their products.

Enterprise Ireland’s new five-year strategy, “Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally” includes a number of key initiatives to drive AI usage in Irish enterprises. EI will provide businesses with guidance and expertise to aid digital transformation through the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH). Many small Irish companies are holding commercially valuable datasets from which AI can help them to draw insights, business strategies and new products and services.

CeADAR, which is the dedicated EDIH for AI, has worked with my Department to develop a new online AI literacy training course “AI for You: Introduction to AI and the EU AI Act”, which is available to all SMEs at little or no cost.

We are also working with business representative groups and the Enterprise Digital Advisory Group, to develop a collaborative campaign to increase Digital and AI adoption among micro and SMEs. Case studies will be used to showcase how different businesses have successfully embraced AI solutions to boost their operations and is a good way of encouraging AI adoption.

The AI Advisory Council which was established in January 2024 provides independent expert advice to government on artificial intelligence policy. The Council’s recent report entitled 'Ireland’s AI Advisory Council Recommendations – Helping to Shape Ireland’s AI Future' is being considered by Government.

My Department is also leading on the national implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which came into force in August 2024. The Act is designed to provide a high level of protection for people’s health and safety, and their fundamental rights, and to simultaneously promote investment and innovation in responsible, trustworthy AI. For this reason, the Act provides a strategic opportunity for Ireland to be a global leader in the adoption of AI.

Skills development is a core pillar of the National AI Strategy and reflects the whole of government approach to ensure that Ireland has the talent and skills necessary to reap the benefits of AI. A range of digital and related upskilling and reskilling initiatives are available via SOLAS and the ETBs, Skillnet Ireland, and Springboard+. Ensuring adequate provision of digital and AI skills, both basic and high-level, remains a priority for Government.