Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
176. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of which of the Digital Ireland 20 high-level objectives and 90 specific deliverables his Department will be responsible for; the budgetary allocations that will be made for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16805/26]
View answerThe Government’s updated National Digital and Artificial Intelligence Strategy was published in February 2026. It sets out Ireland’s ambition to strengthen its position as a digital leader and global hub for applied AI innovation, building on our talent base, reputation and innovation ecosystem.
My Department has been designated lead for the majority of the deliverables under Pillar 4 of Digital Ireland “Invest: Digital and AI Infrastructure for a Digital Ireland”. These deliverables span the full spectrum of digital connectivity infrastructure, from completing the National Broadband Plan and achieving universal gigabit connectivity, to developing subsea cable routes, building infrastructure resilience, and driving next-generation technologies including 5G, quantum communications and 6G research. The deliverables are set out in the table below:
|
Deliverable No. |
Deliverable |
Timeline |
|
38 |
Updated Digital Connectivity Strategy |
In 2026 |
|
39 |
Complete National Broadband Plan deployment |
In 2026 |
|
40 |
Enable Gigabit broadband connectivity to every premises |
By 2028 |
|
41 |
Promote and facilitate the creation of new subsea cable connectivity routes from Ireland to Europe |
By 2030 |
|
42 |
Support development of more cables on new and diverse routes and partner with neighbouring states to develop response and repair capacities |
Ongoing |
|
44 |
Build preparedness capacities across the digital infrastructure sector to counter potential vulnerabilities, including: protection of State infrastructure from extreme climate events (including examining the use of satellite services to mitigate the risk of terrestrial backhaul outages); strengthening consumer protections in service outage scenarios; enhancing systems for public warnings, emergency alerts and Emergency Call Answering Services |
By 2030 / By 2027 (ECAS) |
|
48 |
Implement strategic pilot digital initiatives: exploit 5G capabilities through 5G Standalone pilots, including within the Public Service in Health and Public Safety |
Ongoing |
|
49 |
Expand Quantum communication networks in partnership with EU Member States |
Ongoing |
|
50 |
Foster experimentation and develop advanced communication technologies, e.g. 6G |
Ongoing |
Pillar 4 Budget Allocation under the National Development Plan 2026 – 2030:
|
Project Title |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
Total |
|
National Broadband Plan |
€433,000,000 |
€153,000,000 |
€107,500,000 |
€97,500,000 |
€71,500,000 |
€862,500,000 |
|
EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) |
€2,000,000 |
€2,000,000 |
€2,000,000 |
€2,000,000 |
€2,000,000 |
€10,000,000 |
|
Public Warning System |
€1,000,000 |
€12,500,000 |
€1,000,000 |
€1,000,000 |
€1,000,000 |
€16,500,000 |
|
Subsea Cable State Intervention |
€650,000 |
€1,723,000 |
€1,073,000 |
€1,823,000 |
€2,423,000 |
€7,692,000 |
|
Subsea Cable Repair |
€0 |
€500,000 |
€500,000 |
€500,000 |
€500,000 |
€2,000,000 |
|
Total |
€436,650,000 |
€169,723,000 |
€112,073,000 |
€102,823,000 |
€77,423,000 |
€898,692,000 |
My Department also holds responsibility for additional deliverables under Digital Ireland covering online safety, digital regulation and public service digitalisation, as set out in the table below.
|
Deliverable No. |
Deliverable |
Timeline |
|
4 |
Launch Ireland’s Government Digital Wallet, including an online age verification mechanism (OGCIO lead; D/CCS supporting) |
End 2026 |
|
68 |
Support and resource Coimisiún na Meán in implementing the Online Safety Code |
Ongoing |
|
69 |
Progress enhancements to the EU Online Safety Framework, including review and potential revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive during Ireland’s EU Presidency |
Ongoing |
|
71 |
Support Coimisiún na Meán to lead a public awareness campaign on AI-generated non-consensual intimate images (D/CCS supporting An Coimisiún) |
Ongoing |
|
72 |
Coimisiún na Meán and the AI Advisory Council to review and update taxonomies of online harms with regard to AI-enabled harms (D/CCS supporting An Coimisiún) |
Ongoing |
|
73 |
Implement the National Counter Disinformation Strategy through funding for media literacy, fact-checking and disinformation research |
Ongoing, Budget 2026 allocation of €1.1 million |
|
75 |
Implement an age verification tool through the Government Digital Wallet, protecting users’ rights including privacy (OGCIO lead; D/CCS supporting) |
Ongoing |
|
76 |
Work with like-minded Member States to explore age restrictions on social media for those under sixteen |
Ongoing |
