Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
247. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Department is preparing Ireland's workforce for the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. [67772/25]
View answerMy Department is taking a coordinated approach to preparing Ireland’s workforce for the opportunities and challenges linked to artificial intelligence (AI). This includes support for higher education, further education and targeted upskilling initiatives that help learners and workers develop the digital and analytical skills needed in a rapidly evolving labour market.
The Further Education and Training (FET) sector plays an important role in providing opportunities for learners of all ages to acquire the digital, analytical, critical thinking, and leadership competencies required to keep pace with technological progress. Across the FET sector, Education and Training Boards and SOLAS are introducing AI-focused programmes and micro-qualifications under initiatives such as Skills to Advance. Examples include QQI-accredited courses like Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (Level 4) and Enhancing Productivity with AI (Level 5). In addition, eCollege offers the ICDL Artificial Intelligence course online, providing learners with a solid understanding of AI principles, usage scenarios, and workplace applications. These offerings ensure that learners can access flexible, accredited pathways to develop AI literacy and digital skills, supporting Ireland’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
From an upskilling and reskilling perspective, my Department is preparing Ireland’s workforce for the opportunities and challenges of AI by funding flexible, high-demand courses in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including specific AI courses through the Springboard+ 2025 initiative. This programme provides almost 8,000 free or highly subsidised places on 249 flexible courses, including part-time micro-credentials and full-time ICT skills conversion programmes. There are 1,450 places on 50 ICT courses, of which 395 places are on courses in AI offered across 12 higher education providers. 93% of courses are delivered in blended or online format, supporting flexible upskilling and reskilling for learners across the country.
My Department has also consulted with our key partnership forum, the National Skills Council, for their advice on how to fully unlock the potential of AI driven innovation. The National Skills Council has identified AI skills as a critical national capability and made specific recommendations around AI skills gaps.
On the 25th November, Cabinet noted my Department’s plans to progress a national online AI Skilling Platform, curated through a public e-learning environment, to be launched in the first quarter of 2026. This is a direct response to the call from the National Skills Council for “continuous upskilling of the workforce” and accessible pathways for all citizens.
In addition, to assist educators and their students respond to this swiftly evolving field, the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN), produced Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Guidelines for Educators in September 2023. This publication aims to provide practical support and advice for educators, to assist in the design and assessment of programmes. It also enables students to have a better understanding of an ethical basis for the use of GenAI tools, building their own self-awareness and knowledge, and avoiding breaches of academic integrity. These Guidelines will be regularly reviewed and updated with evolving developments.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has also published its Generative Artificial Intelligence Survey Report 2025, providing a data-rich overview of how GenAI is reshaping the Irish education landscape. The report draws on insights from more than 2,200 staff and learners across further education and training, higher education, and the English language education sector.
As the first national survey of its kind in Ireland, the report examines how GenAI is understood, used, and perceived within educational settings, and explores its anticipated impact on teaching, learning, assessment, and the workplace. QQI has developed interactive dashboards that allow users to explore the survey data in greater detail. These tools are designed to help stakeholders make informed decisions about workforce development, digital skills training, and strategic planning in response to the evolving role of GenAI.
The full report and dashboards are available here: www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/engagement-insights-and-knowledge-sharing/our-data/analysis-of-generative-ai-survey.
Furthermore, my Department is actively contributing to work across Government to progress the development of an update to the National Digital Strategy (NDS), which will include an AI component, and to develop Technology Skills of the Future, which will be the successor plan to Technology Skills 2022, Ireland’s Third ICT Skills Action Plan.
The updated NDS will outline the Government’s vision to ensure Ireland is positioned to maximise the benefits and opportunities of AI and other technologies, building on commitments in the Programme for Government.
