Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2025
185. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will identify any projects which a body under the aegis of his Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; if he will send this question to the bodies for direct response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18400/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, CeADAR is Ireland’s national centre for AI and is an Enterprise Ireland and IDA funded technology centre established to support businesses and organisations in Ireland understand, adopt and leverage the benefits and value of AI and machine learning in a constantly advancing and evolving environment. As the European Digital Innovation Hub for AI, CeADAR help Irish organisations explore and scale AI in the delivery of services, including those provided by public service bodies in their work on AI. Neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis currently have any specific projects underway with CeADAR.
More generally, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department collaborates with CeADAR to support Public Service Organisations who wish to embed AI and to identify and scale up suitable AI projects from across the sector. Through both the formal and informal networks that it maintains, my Department promotes AI courses, AI events and webinars, as well as informs public service bodies about potential AI funding competitions and resources. This includes promotion of the following CeADAR services:
• Test Before Invest Services: Which provides for the development of AI strategies and technical roadmaps, as well as prototype designs & development;
• Design and Build Services: The design and development of full-scale operational AI solutions to advance products or services; and,
• Skills and Training Services: Skills and training in three categories, AI for Executives, AI Essentials for Everyone, and AI Ambassadors.
