Written answers

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Cybersecurity Policy

Photo of Emer CurrieEmer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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100. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his Department’s activities and plans to support the development of Ireland’s cybersecurity industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30873/25]

Photo of Alan DillonAlan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government through Enterprise Ireland (EI) is an active supporter of Irish cybersecurity companies and the wider sectoral ecosystem. Cybersecurity focused companies generate around €2.7bn in revenue annually and employ over 8,000 people nationwide, according to the CSO.

EI’s Fintech, Financial Services & Cybersecurity department provides a range of supports to approx. 50 cybersecurity sector client companies, both start-up and established. EI invests in new and emerging businesses via their Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) and High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) packages; it provides grant assistance to part fund the completion of research and development projects, employment growth and market expansion, amongst other activities.

The EI network of 40 overseas offices provides in-market support to cybersecurity companies looking to enter and expand in export markets. This work is completed via introductions to buyers, the deployment of local market pathfinders and the undertaking of Inward Buyer Visits (to Ireland) and Trade Missions across the world.

In April 2025, the EI Paris office hosted four cyber clients at the Forum InCyber Expo in Lille. The same month, the San Francisco office hosted a networking event for 15 cyber clients at the annual RSA Conference for the Cyber sector.

Enterprise Ireland co-funds CyberInnovate, a 10-month Cyber post graduate diploma delivered by MTU Cork and the Collaboratory, a Security Operations Centre located in TU Dublin Blanchardstown.

Enterprise Ireland is a founding member of Cyber Ireland, the National Cybersecurity Cluster that fosters collaboration among Government, academia & industry. EI have a seat on its Board, and are headline sponsors of its Annual National Conference, which this year takes place in Kilkenny in October. At this event, the work of EI client companies is showcased.

Since its launch in September 2024, approximately 200 client companies have been approved a Cyber Security Review Grant, a support which part-funds the completion of a security audit by a qualified consultant.

The EI cyber team regularly works with other ecosystem partners like IDA Ireland, the National Cyber Security Centre, CeADAR and third level institutions.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish businesses to start, compete, scale and connect, and their new five-year strategy ‘Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally’ outlines EI’s ambitious targets for the Irish enterprise base, which aims to support more Irish companies to achieve greater scale through international growth.

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