Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
2471. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of civil and public servants in her Department and agencies under its remit who have received training in AI, data literacy or digital skills in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25027/26]
View answerDCDE is actively examining the ways in which we can securely utilise AI technology to aid in our day-today work and to more effectively meet our strategic objectives and serve our key stakeholders.
This work is informed by the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service, published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in May 2025. These guidelines were aligned with the EU AI Act 2024 to ensure that AI deployed in the Irish public service adheres to European regulatory standards.
In the period April 2025 to date there have been 120 DCDE attendees at training on AI, data literacy and digital skills. This includes individual courses, conferences and seminars held both in-person and online. As some staff members attended multiple training options, this 120 attendances equates to training for 90 individual staff members.
Further training is being planned on AI governance, ICT certification in AI, and general day-to-day use of AI tools, as they arise. All AI related training sourced and undertaken will be embedded in the best practice set out in the Public Service Guidelines on AI.
