Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2024
147. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports being considered for SMEs in the use of AI technologies for their businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43591/24]
View answerThe National AI Strategy is part of a suite of Government digital strategies under the overarching National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital, published in February 2022. My Department is responsible for implementing the actions in both strategies that relate to digitalisation and AI adoption in enterprise.
The overall aim of the AI Strategy is to drive the development and adoption of trustworthy, person-centred AI for economic and societal good.
A refresh of the National AI Strategy will be published in the coming weeks with actions for a range of government Departments and agencies. It aims to balance innovation with proportionate regulation and trust-building measures.
We now have a package of targeted supports for businesses to digitalise. Firstly, the Grow Digital Portal, is a website with a 5-minutes assessment that helps businesses to assess their progress on digitalisation and opportunities for improvement as well as presenting relatable case studies of businesses that have benefited from technology adoption.
Secondly, the LEOs Digital for Business consultancy scheme provides expert digital consultants to help businesses explore technology adoption opportunities.
Thirdly, the new LEOs Grow Digital Voucher, launched on 4 September 2024 offers businesses with up to 50 employees in all sectors up to €5,000 towards deployment of a wide range of digital software solutions. This represents a significant expansion on the previous Trading Online Voucher. We want to get the message out that deploying digital tools and technologies, including AI, can help businesses of all sizes, from sole traders up, to save time and money, and ultimately make them more competitive.
Government has established four European Digital Innovation Hubs to help businesses, and SMEs in particular, in evaluating and adopting digital and AI tools. I would like to draw particular attention to CeADAR, Ireland's Centre for Applied AI, which acts as the bridge between the worlds of applied research in AI and data analytics and their commercial deployment by business.
My Department established an Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum to assist Government to drive industry adoption of AI and other digital technologies. The DETE is also working with business representative groups to develop a collaborative campaign to increase digital and AI adoption among micro business and SMEs.
Enterprise Ireland recently introduced a new Cybersecurity grant for client companies and will increase the focus on helping its client base to adopt digital and AI tools as part of its new five-year strategy, to commence in 2025.
Government will help businesses to navigate this period of rapid technological change, to take advantage of the opportunities of AI, and to protect themselves from the risks.
