Government Publishes new Digital & AI Strategy 90 Actions to strengthen Ireland’s position as a Digital Leader and AI hub

The Government today published a new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future.

This builds on Ireland’s strong digital foundations: our well-established reputation as a digital hub, our exceptional talent base and our vibrant innovation ecosystem.

Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for a digital economy which supports competitiveness and innovation, while also protecting data privacy and fundamental rights.

It includes 90 deliverables across many Departments and Agencies including:

• 100% of key public services digitalised by 2030, and 90% consumed online
• a new AI Advisory Unit for the public service
• a National AI Fellowship programme for the public sector
• a new GovTech 2026 Challenge
• implementation of ‘Digital for Care 2030’ and a new ‘AI for Care’ Strategy
• a new targeted sectoral strategy to drive AI adoption across the enterprise base and AI Sector Champions to spotlight AI opportunities
• an Observatory for Business AI Readiness (OBAIR), developing intelligence on enterprise use of AI in Ireland
• a new AI and Digital literacy campaign for SMEs
• a new internationally leading AI Research Centre of scale to be established by Research Ireland
• an AI in Research transformation programme
• a new AI Office of Ireland, as the central coordinating authority for the EU AI Act, and a new AI Regulatory Sandbox
• hosting an International AI and Digital Summit as a flagship event during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU
• strengthening Ireland’s international connectivity through the creation of new subsea cable connectivity routes from Ireland to Europe
• establishing a new Cyber Security Research Centre of Excellence
• engaging at EU level to influence and advance the EU’s digital simplification agenda, and ensure balanced, coherent and future-proofed digital regulatory frameworks
• a Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office under the EU eEvidence Package
• ensuring our digital regulators are sufficiently resourced and skilled and enhancing the Digital Regulators Group and its Secretariat
• working actively with like-minded EU Member States to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating, in particular, on those under sixteen years of age
• building awareness and skills resources to support online safety in schools and develop a national network of Digital Citizenship Champions
• a new Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future to ensure our skills ecosystem remains responsive and future-focused
• a new National Skills Observatory to analyse labour market dynamics and skills development across all skills needs
• a new online one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform for employers and individuals, and a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign
• a commitment to ensuring all learners acquire the foundational digital skills, digital literacy, and media literacy skills needed, across curricula at all levels
• a National Conversation on AI in research to support public engagement, informed debate and public trust

In welcoming the strategy, the Taoiseach said:

Speaking today, the Tánaiste noted:

Minister of State Canney said:

Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future

Digital Ireland contains 20 high-level Objectives, supported by 90 specific Deliverables, covering Public Services, Enterprise, Digital & AI Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Digital Regulation, Online Safety, and Skills and Talent.

Key digital and AI actions include:

Apply AI and digital solutions to enhance how we deliver our public services and drive responsible AI adoption across the public sector:

• 100% of key public services digitalised by 2030, and 90% consumed online.
• A new AI Advisory Unit for the public service; a National AI Fellowship programme for the public sector; a new GovTech 2026 Challenge; and public sector AI training.
• Accelerate the digital transformation of our health service through implementation of Digital for Care 2030 and a new AI for Care Strategy.

Grow our digital economy and competitiveness, and strengthen our profile as a location for investment and a global hub for Applied AI:

• New targeted sectoral strategy to drive AI adoption across the enterprise base; AI Sector champions to spotlight AI opportunities.
• Establish an Observatory for Business AI Readiness (OBAIR), developing intelligence on enterprise use of AI in Ireland; AI and Digital literacy campaign for SMEs.
• Strengthen Ireland as a global hub for applied AI innovation by establishing an AI Research Centre of Scale, expanding CeADAR, progressing access to advanced compute capacity, a new AI Regulatory Sandbox, an AI in Research transformation programme, and establishing a Quantum Centre of Excellence.
• A new AI Office of Ireland, as the central coordinating authority for the EU AI Act, and a focal point for responsible AI innovation and adoption in Ireland.

Investing in our digital future by building secure, resilient and future-proofed digital and AI infrastructure, and strengthening our cyber security capacity:

• Updated Digital Connectivity Strategy; enabling gigabit broadband connectivity to every premise; and strengthening Ireland’s international connectivity through the creation of new subsea cable connectivity routes from Ireland to Europe.
• Strengthen the security and resilience of our digital infrastructure across our networks and sub-sea cable infrastructure.
• Support the sustained growth of our national Advanced Computing infrastructure, through Ireland’s AI Factory Antenna, and CASPIr supercomputer, as well as strategic pilot digital initiatives in 5G Standalone, quantum and advanced communication technologies.
• A new Cyber Security Strategy, establishment of a new Cyber Security Research Centre of Excellence and supporting the secure use of AI in the public sector.

Leading as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and regulatory centre of excellence:

• Enhance our strategic engagement at EU level to influence and advance the EU’s digital simplification agenda, and strengthen cross-sectoral engagement to ensure balanced, coherent and future-proofed digital regulatory frameworks.
• Establish a new Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office under the EU eEvidence Package.
• Ensuring our digital regulators are sufficiently resourced and skilled, encouraging an approach that enables innovation and competitiveness, and supporting the enhancement of the Digital Regulators Group and its Secretariat.

Enhancing online safety as a priority, in particular for vulnerable groups such as children and young people:

• Ensure our Online Safety Framework is sufficiently robust to deal with emerging challenges and risks, including by adequately resourcing regulators and progressing enhancements to the EU Online Safety Framework.
• Work actively with like-minded Member States to explore options to introduce age restrictions on the use of social media concentrating, in particular, on those under sixteen years of age; strongly advocate for a decision on the “digital age of majority” to be taken at EU level but taking action domestically if necessary.
• Build awareness and skills resources to support online safety in schools and develop a national network of Digital Citizenship Champions.

Empowering our people, workers and businesses to thrive in a digital economy and society, through responsive, inclusive digital and AI skills and literacy opportunities:

• A new Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future to ensure our skills ecosystem remains responsive and future focused.
• A new National Skills Observatory to analyse labour market dynamics and skills development across all skills needs, identifying gaps in provision, and enabling additional skills initiatives.
• A new online one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform for employers and individuals, and a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign.
• A commitment to ensuring that all learners acquire foundational digital skills, digital literacy skills, and media literacy skills needed to thrive in a digital world, across curricula at all levels.
• A National Conversation on AI in research to support public engagement and informed debate and build public trust.

Notes

Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future sets out the Government’s ambition to strengthen our position as a digital leader, and our vision to position Ireland to harness the digital and AI revolution for economic growth, and for the benefit of all of society.

The strategy outlines five strategic and mutually reinforcing ambitions: Apply, Grow, Invest, Lead, and Empower – reflecting the agile approach needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world:

• Apply digital and AI technologies to enhance public services
• Grow our digital economy and profile as a location of choice for investment, and as a global hub for Applied AI
• Invest in secure, resilient, future-proofed digital infrastructure, including building our cybersecurity capacity
• Lead as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and centre of excellence
• Empower all groups in society and the economy with the skills and literacy needed to participate confidently and safely in a digital and AI economy and society; and enhance our Online Safety Framework at both national and EU level to protect vulnerable cohorts, in particular children and young people.

20 high-level Objectives and 90 Deliverables are set out across the strategy, reflecting the breadth of activity across the government system, including Public Services, Enterprise, Digital & AI Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Digital Regulation, Online Safety, and Skills and Talent.

Extensive consultation and engagement across government and the public sector, as well as targeted consultation with stakeholders has informed the development of Digital Ireland.

Implementation will be driven from the centre of government, by the Department of the Taoiseach, working with all relevant Departments, and overseen by the Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness. Regular stakeholder engagement will remain a key element in the Government’s approach to ensure successful, responsive and agile delivery and impact.

Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future is available on gov.ie.