Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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309. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether participation in any proposed AI workforce transition or retraining programme would be linked to immigration or employment-permit status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40996/26]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Government’s recently published National Digital and AI Strategy – Digital Ireland: Connecting Our People, Securing Our Future outlines our plans for supporting workers navigate changes brought about by AI.

This government is committed to working collaboratively across the skills ecosystem to ensure that education and training provision is aligned with labour market demands, including supporting those most exposed to technological change to develop relevant and future-focused skills.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D/FHERIS) is leading on the skills piece. For example, my colleague, Minister James Lawless, recently launched AIReady, a new national online AI skilling platform. This major initiative is designed to support people in upskilling and to help future-proof Ireland’s workforce for an AI driven economy. Additional commitments for D/FHERIS within the strategy include enhanced upskilling opportunities with SOLAS and Skillnet, a nationwide Digital and AI skills campaign and the development of a Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future. Furthermore, a new National Skills Observatory will be established to analyse labour market dynamics and skills needs.

Ireland’s employment permit system is vacancy led and managed through the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List, both of which my Department reviews on a regular basis. There are no plans to link participation in AI skills programmes to immigration or employment permit status.