Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2025
543. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the type of training provided to staff within her Department in the use of, or understanding of artificial intelligence; if a programme is planned for all staff on their obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67465/25]
View answerThe Department has an approved policy on the use of Gen AI, which is based on recommendations from the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Security Guidance for Public Sector Bodies and DPENDR’s Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service.
Training on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) has been provided to a small number of staff in the Department of Health, focusing on possible use cases such as improved efficiency and productivity. This training was part of a proof of concept and is intended to inform future decisions regarding the broader use of Gen AI within the Department.
The Institute of Public Administration - the central provider of training to Civil Service organisations – has made the following two on-demand eLearning courses available to all staff on the OneLearning platform in 2025:
• Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service; and
• Navigating the Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service.
