Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2025
725. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the type of training provided to staff within his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [67469/25]
View answerMy Department follows the guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The guidance recommends that new AI technology should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment.
OneLearning is the learning and development platform available to all staff across the Civil Service. It recently began to offer short courses on AI, and these are recommended for all staff to complete. The Learning and Development unit in my Department plans to prioritise the uptake of such training in 2026, as well as related courses within the Institute of Public Administration for staff who may be more directly involved in the area in the future.
