Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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465. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs finding that AI-related jobs here have doubled since 2023, placing Ireland among the top global performers, if he will provide a regional breakdown of AI job growth, including the Cork/Munster region; to provide details of the way in which regional centres are being supported through infrastructure, training and investment to capture this growth; and the way in which the Government will ensure that smaller enterprises outside Dublin can participate in, and benefit from, the AI ecosystem. [62195/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The paper published last week by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on ‘How AI is transforming the Irish Labour Market’ was an excellent piece of work that highlighted the speed at which Ireland is moving in relation to AI. The research noted that Ireland leads in terms of the demand for AI jobs but also a strong performance in relation to the supply of AI talent. As the Deputy rightly points out, the work also noted a doubling in AI jobs and usage since 2023. While this is a fast-changing field – it shows the inherent dynamism and resilience of the Irish labour market. The paper used national level data to compare Ireland with other European and international economies. Data on a county or province level basis was not available so I can’t provide the county or regional level split requested.

However, I would point to a number of projects underway within my department that will shed more light on regional aspects to AI related jobs development. Our focus is on a new National Digital and AI strategy, which is currently being updated and will be completed by the end-year. The Government and our Enterprise Agencies will also continue to support clients in this space, including on critical infrastructure and talent development.

The EGFSN is also funding or co-funding a number of very important pieces of AI related work. This includes the ‘Skills for Digital Specialists 2030’, EGFSN, (early 2026). This report will identify skills needs and skills gaps for ICT/digital specialists, including AI, within ICT and across other sectors of the Irish economy. The EGFSN is also cofounding a new and revised ‘Working in Ireland Survey’ on the Irish labour market being conducted by UCD. This will be available later this year with research outputs in 2026 that will include a deep dive into the Irish labour market and AI.

My Department has an ongoing relationship with the OECD on the subject of AI and the Labour Market, co-funding a project entitled ‘The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the labour market: what do we know so far?’ in 2021 and another project entitled ‘Generative AI and the SME Workforce: New Survey Evidence’ in 2024. Further projects for 2026 and beyond are currently being discussed.

Aside from AI, I would stress the very marked rise in employment levels within our economy. The CSO reported that there were 2.8 million persons at work in the second quarter of this year – annual growth of 2.3%. Within this, using a regional breakdown, the South-West region (Cork, Kerry), continues to perform remarkably well with annual growth in jobs of 4%. In fact, over the past 4 quarters, jobs growth in the South-West region (at 3.4%) has exceeded the national employment growth rate (3%). For the Mid-west (Clare, Tipperary, Limerick) region, growth rates have also been strong, with employment increasing by 6.8% on average over the past 4 quarters and by 8.9% in quarter 2 of this year.

The critical importance of AI has been consistently recognised in our national policies. From the commitments outlined in the Programme for Government to the recently published Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, AI has been identified as a key enabler of competitiveness and growth, and crucially, as central to Ireland’s innovation and enterprise agenda.

The National Digital and AI Strategy is currently being updated and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The updated Strategy will set more ambitious national targets in key areas and will have a significant emphasis on AI throughout.

My department is actively engaged in shaping the new Strategy and is leading on the Enterprise Pillar. This will include targeted measures to drive the widespread adoption of advanced technologies, ensuring Irish businesses can compete and thrive on a global stage. Key strategic actions will include:

• Working with enterprise agencies with a dual approach strategy to support both foundational digital adoption for traditional SMEs and advanced AI enablement for technology-native firms.
• A review of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) digital supports, “Digital for Business” and “Grow Digital Voucher” will be undertaken to assess their effectiveness.
• Raising awareness of the range of state funding initiatives provided by the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland including digital consultancy grants, grow digital vouchers, digital process innovation grants, digital marketing capability grants, cyber security review grants and R&D grants.
• Ongoing investment to ensure that grant programmes remain available. Since 2022, Enterprise Ireland has approved €58.1 million in funding through the Digital Transition Fund for 926 projects across 694 clients. The DTF concludes in 2026, but Government will continue to fund the underlying schemes.