Tuesday, 23 Jun 2026

Written Answers Nos. 472-491

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National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ceisteanna (472, 473, 474)

Liam Quaide

Ceist:

472. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the practice of other enforcement bodies, including An Garda Síochána, where staffing numbers without any identifying information are published by geographical area; whether any assessment has been carried out of whether comparable publication of NPWS staffing and vacancy data would create a real operational risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47868/26]

Liam Quaide

Ceist:

473. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing position for NPWS enforcement roles covering east Cork and Waterford, including conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles; the length of any vacancies in those areas; the temporary cover arrangements in place; when each vacant post was last advertised; when the posts are expected to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47869/26]

Liam Quaide

Ceist:

474. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has carried out any analysis of the relationship between NPWS staffing levels, vacancy duration and enforcement outcomes, including inspections, Ministerial directions, warnings, prosecutions and other enforcement actions arising from reports of alleged unlawful habitat destruction; and if he will publish that analysis or explain the reason no such analysis has been undertaken. [47870/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 473 and 474 together.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department operates within a structured workforce planning framework, with staffing kept under continuous review in line with operational needs and Government policy as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Recruitment is actively managed, internally and in conjunction with Public Jobs, to ensure the timely filling of posts.

Since 2020, NPWS staffing has increased from approximately 340 to 576, reflecting sustained Government investment in strengthening conservation and enforcement capacity.

A dedicated Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection Directorate within the NPWS provides strategic oversight of enforcement activity, including a specialised Wildlife Enforcement Unit of 49 staff. This operates on an intelligence led basis, drawing on expertise across all NPWS directorates to investigate alleged wildlife crime.

My Department does not maintain a static list of vacancies. Instead, workforce requirements are actively managed on a dynamic basis, reflecting the evolving operational environment, with vacancies assessed against overall organisational need and strategic priorities.

At present, vacancies exist across a number of grades, including Conservation Ranger, District Conservation Officer and Regional Manager, reflecting normal staff turnover within an organisation of this scale. These vacancies are being actively progressed through ongoing and recently completed recruitment processes, including the establishment of panels and the scheduling of further competitions.

Interim arrangements are implemented on a structured basis, including the strategic allocation of responsibilities across regional and divisional teams, to ensure continuity of service, appropriate management oversight and the sustained delivery of enforcement functions.

Given the nature of wildlife crimes and enforcement in general, my Department does not provide information that may facilitate non-compliance with legal obligations or otherwise impair operational efficiency. This ensures staff safety and protects the integrity of investigations into wildlife crime, such as illegal trapping and habitat destruction.

The publication of such geographic information could potentially incentivise wildlife crime in areas where there are perceived gaps or limited service.

Question No. 473 answered with Question No. 472.

Question No. 474 answered with Question No. 472.

Social Enterprise Sector

Ceisteanna (475)

John Paul O'Shea

Ceist:

475. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to the introduction of a targeted PRSI rebate or reduced employer PRSI contribution for social enterprises employing lower paid workers; whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact such a measure will have on employment retention and job creation within the social enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47771/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

In general, the issue of targeted supports for businesses is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

There are no proposals to introduce an employer PRSI rebate or reduced employer PRSI contributions for employers with lower paid workers. However, in recognition of the pressures faced by businesses, the Government agreed, in Budget 2026, to increase the employer PRSI threshold from €527 to €552 per week, effective from 1 January 2026. This will ensure that employers with full time employees on the national minimum wage or employees with earnings under €552 per week will attract the lower employer PRSI rate of 9%.

Any further changes to the PRSI employer rates or threshold would have to be considered in a budgetary context, taking account of the economic circumstances and with a view to the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (476)

Donna McGettigan

Ceist:

476. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to allow for the reinterpretation of the 18.5-hour work cap for carers who wish to avail of further education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46815/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The main income supports for family carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €2.2 billion in 2026.

To qualify for Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or the Carer's Support Grant, the carer must provide full-time care and attention to a person who is so incapacitated that they require this level of full-time care for at least 12 months.

A carer is considered to be providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of seven consecutive days, and care is provided on any five days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of seven consecutive days.

While these schemes are based on the provision of full-time care, they do allow carers to engage in training, education or employment for up to 18.5 hours per week, as set out in legislation. This threshold was increased from 15 hours as part of Budget 2020 following feedback from carers and carer's organisations who found the 15 hours too restrictive. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

In setting the relevant thresholds, it is essential to balance the needs of the carer and the needs of the person receiving care. The 18.5-hour rule represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer while continuing to support broader social inclusion.

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (477)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

477. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal decision on a one parent family application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46842/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.

The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in the coming days.

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna (478)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

478. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for the up-to-date position on his Department's engagement with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to remuneration and related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46858/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

My Department currently has 55 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations around the country that play an important role in supporting the Department in the delivery of services at local level. Each Social Welfare Branch Office is operated and managed, under a commercial contract for service, by a Branch Manager. It is important to note that Branch managers are independent self-employed contractors.

There are two Branch Manager representative groups, The Branch Manager’s Association (BMA) and Representative Group of Branch Managers (RGBM). Officials from my Department actively engage with the representative groups on contractual and service delivery issues.

The current Branch Manager remuneration package was agreed in conjunction with an improved service delivery model to be provided by Branch Managers in 2018. The Department reviewed this package in April 2023 and provided for a further increase in the Branch Manager remuneration arrangements at that time.

Following requests in 2025 from both Branch Manager associations to review current payment arrangements, the Department carried out a review in the context of the 2026 budgetary process.

As required, the Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to secure sanction for increased Branch Manager remuneration. Following discussions with officials in that Department, sanction was secured to apply a 10% increase from 1 June 2026 with no further expenditure allocated for remuneration in 2026.

Department officials notified both associations of this outcome on 8 May 2026. The revised remuneration packages were communicated to each branch manager during the week commencing 11 May for their review and acceptance.

Both associations have requested that the increase take effect from the 1 January 2026 and not from 1 June 2026.

The BMA and associated Branch Managers have requested an arbitration process to be commenced on the current remuneration review and were advised of the Department's position on arbitration on 29th May 2026.

The Department has facilitated discussions with both representative groups on an on-going basis. At a recent meeting with the BMA, the Department emphasised that all Government funding for 2026 must adhere strictly to expenditure ceilings, and the approved remuneration package must be accommodated within the 2026 budget allocation. Within this context, the 10% increase from 1 June 2026 remains the Department’s sanctioned offer.

I acknowledge the work of Branch Managers, and their staff in providing a continuous high standard of service delivery. The Department has taken cognisance of the increased costs of running a business in the review and the resulting sanctioned increase in the remuneration package, which has been offered to all Branch Managers.

Community Employment Schemes

Ceisteanna (479)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

479. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the upper age limit for participation in the community employment (CE) schemes from 66 years of age to 70 years of age on a voluntary basis, recognising the important contribution CE participants make to local communities, the benefits these schemes provide in terms of social inclusion, routine and continued community involvement, particularly for those who wish to remain active after reaching pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46984/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE placements are intended to be temporary and subject to time limits. This is to ensure the continued availability of places on CE projects for a broad range of long-term unemployed candidates.

CE projects are in diverse areas and include the development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, environmental maintenance, early years, and after-school supports, heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport, recycling and repair of equipment, visitation, friendly call, and befriending programmes for older people.

In response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions, a set of new pension measures were approved by Cabinet in September 2022. These included maintaining the State pension age at 66 and the introduction of a new flexible pension model, with effect from January 2024, whereby people have the option to continue working up until the age of 70 in return for a higher pension.

The new measures are specifically for people in standard employment situations and do not apply to State supported schemes like CE, where the participant qualifies due to being on a specific social welfare working age payment in advance of their placement on the scheme.

Accordingly, the position regarding funding for CE participants remains as heretofore. Funding for participants will continue to be available to State Pension Age, which is currently 66.

Should participants wish to continue to work after they reach 66, it is open to them to apply for positions that are not state funded. There may also be the option to continue to support and work with their CE scheme in a voluntary capacity.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ceisteanna (480)

George Lawlor

Ceist:

480. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for job seeker allowance for a person (details supplied) will be determined by his Department; the reason for the delay in finalising the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46989/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Person Concerned applied for Jobseekers Allowance on the 15/5/26. Further information was requested in relation to application.

The Person Concerned did not return all of the requested information. Three reminders were issued in this regard and their application was closed on the 03/06/26. The Person Concerned was notified of this.

The Person Concerned reapplied for Jobseekers Allowance on the 10/06/2026, and provided the requested documents. The application was processed and awarded on the 18/06/26.

A decision letter has issued to the Person Concerned advising that their first payment will be available to them in their nominated Post Office on the 22/06/2026.

Budget 2027

Ceisteanna (481)

Eoin Hayes

Ceist:

481. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of increasing the income disregards for the carers allowance means test for single and married carers in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47001/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Programme for Government contains the commitment to continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance across a series of Budgets with a view to phasing out the means test over the lifetime of the Government.

Budget 2026 has increased the earnings disregard for Carer’s Allowance by €375 to €1,000 per week for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 per week for a couple. These are the largest ever increases in the Carer's Allowance income disregards and are evidence of the Government's determination to deliver on its commitment to Carers. This change will be effective from July this year.

The cumulative impact of the increases to the Carer's Allowance disregards over recent years is currently being examined. When complete, this work will inform the costing of any further increases.

Any changes to the Carer's Allowance income disregards would have to be considered in a budgetary context and as part of the annual Budget process.

Social Insurance

Ceisteanna (482)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

482. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the revenue raised by removing the 9.15% employer PRSI band. [47039/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

It is understood that the Deputy's proposal is to eliminate the lower employer rate under PRSI class A, currently at 9%, and apply the higher rate of 11.25% on all income.

It is estimated that the revenue raised by applying this proposed measure would be some €247 million per year.

The estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from changing the rates of employer social insurance contribution.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (483)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would consider extending the domiciliary care allowance to those aged 16 and over in the case of type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47048/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payment to a parent or guardian in respect of a child under 16 who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention, substantially more than what is typically required by a child of the same age.

More than 64,460 families are currently receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of approximately 73,580 children. The estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2026 is almost €359 million.

Domiciliary Care Allowance stops being paid when a child turns 16 years of age. If the young person continues to suffer from a disability that significantly impacts their daily living activities, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name of €254 per week. To avoid any gap in support, families can apply for Disability Allowance up to 3 months before the child’s 16th birthday.

Where the child's carer is also receiving Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit in addition to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment, that payment will continue for as long as the qualifying conditions are met, even after Domiciliary Care Allowance stops. In addition, as long as the carer is continuing to provide full-time care and attention, they will continue to be eligible for the annual Carer's Support Grant. This year’s grant was paid to over 147,000 carers on 4th June, at the rate of €2,000.

Any future reform of Domiciliary Care Allowance will be considered in the context of commitments set out in the Programme for Government and the overall budgetary context.

School Meals Programme

Ceisteanna (484)

Aidan Farrelly

Ceist:

484. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children being catered to by each of the five largest hot school meal providers, in tabular form. [47102/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

There are some 300 suppliers in the School Meals Scheme, with the majority of these supplying one to three local schools. Any register Food Business Operator can tender to become a school meals supplier. This includes not-for-profit providers, caterers, local cafes, restaurants, and Meals on Wheels services.

My Department issues the funding for School Meals directly to schools. Parents can cancel meals for their children on a daily or weekly basis and when their child will be absent from school. All schools are responsible for reconciling invoices against meal delivery dockets and therefore the school does not pay for cancelled meals that have not been delivered.

The table below shows the number of children eligible to receive a Hot School Meal from the five largest suppliers.

No.	Pupils
1,	133,303
2	61,535
3	56,829
4	41,454
5	23,550

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (485)

Shane Moynihan

Ceist:

485. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no dedicated streamlined process exists to manage recurring jobseeker's claims arising from seasonal closures in the early years and Montessori sector; the reason workers must apply in the same manner as new applicants each summer despite the predictable, calendar based nature of this non employment period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47194/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Educational Sector Workers (ESWs), including Early Years Educators and those employed in the Montessori sector, who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school breaks may apply for a jobseeker’s payment during these lay-off periods. All qualifying conditions for a jobseekers payment must be satisfied to receive this payment, including being available for and genuinely seeking work.

Applications for a jobseeker’s payment cannot be made in advance of a person finishing employment and applications should only be made by the person on the first day of their unemployment.

My department has recently introduced improvements to the application process for Educational Sector Workers, including Early Years Educators and those employed in the Montessori sector. These enhancements include a new online application for ESWs to submit their jobseeker's claim through MyWelfare.ie, and improved claim processing.

ESWs can now self-declare the number of holiday days they will receive from their employer for the school break, directly as part of their online jobseeker’s application, without the need to have forms completed by their employer. This change allows for decisions to be made in a more efficient and timely manner.

Alternatively, if a person does not wish to apply for a jobseeker’s payment online they can complete the new ESW 1 application form. This form has also been improved to ensure claims can be dealt with as quickly as possible.

These improvements have reduced the time involved in processing of jobseeker's claims arising from school breaks for all ESWs including those of Early Years Educators and the Montessori sector.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (486)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

486. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to date, and the estimated total cost, of the ‘My Future Fund’ advertising campaign on television, radio, newspapers; and the amount spent to date on advertising on RTÉ radio or television. [47214/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

My Department and the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority are committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of MyFutureFund and have a clear understanding of how the scheme works. Paid public information campaigns play an important role in achieving this objective.

The estimated total cost of the MyFutureFund advertising campaign on television, radio and print media is forecasted to be €2,775,485.11*, covering the period from 2024 up until the end of August 2026. Of this total cost, €2,335,425.58* has been invoiced and paid for as of 12 June 2026.

Of the total expenditure to date, €536,444.51* has been spent on advertising on RTÉ radio and television.

*All costs are exclusive of VAT, ASAI and agency fees.

Social Welfare Offices

Ceisteanna (487, 488)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

487. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will facilitate a meeting (details supplied) to discuss the vital role of social welfare branch offices in rural communities particularly regarding the accessibility of services in Kerry. [47258/26]

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

488. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will facilitate a meeting (details supplied) to discuss the vital role of social welfare branch offices in rural communities particularly regarding the accessibility of services in Kerry. [47260/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.

My Department currently has 55 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations around the country that play an important role in supporting the Department in the delivery of services at local level. Branch Managers are independent self-employed contractors

Each Social Welfare Branch Office is operated and managed, under a contract for service which is subject to public procurement rules, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the officer. They are managed under the direction of my Department’s local Intreo management who are in direct contact with the branch managers to discuss service delivery.

The arrangements under which they operate have been in place for many decades and are grounded in long standing contractual models that reflect the nature of the work they and their staff perform on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.

The Branch Manager in Killorglin has very recently informed the Department of his intention to retire. When such changes arise to any individual Branch Manager contract, the Department assesses the requirements for the retention of services on a case by case basis.

In this regard, all options for continuation of service delivery in Killorglin and its catchment area are currently being examined.

The continued provision of efficient and quality social welfare services, both online and in-person, to all customers including those in Kerry currently being served by the Killorglin and Dingle branch offices, remains a priority for the Department.

There are two Branch Manager representative groups, The Branch Manager’s Association (BMA) and Representative Group of Branch Managers (RGBM).

Officials from my Department actively engage with the representative groups on all contractual and service delivery issues relating to the Branch Manager contracts. This is considered the appropriate mechanism for any issues to be discussed.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 488 answered with Question No. 487.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (489)

Brian Brennan

Ceist:

489. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of any recognised cross-border pension arrangements, policy provisions, or upcoming reforms that would support Irish citizens in maintaining retirement in Ireland whilst currently working and living in UAE but wanting to retire to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47271/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The provisions of the Pensions Act 1990 in respect of cross-border activity relate to pension scheme activity across two or more EU Member States. As such, those provisions are not applicable in the context of third countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and my Department has no role or policy responsibility for occupational pension provision in respect of Irish nationals residing, and working, in third countries.

In relation to social security arrangements that may be applicable to State pensions, there is no bilateral agreement between Ireland and the UAE. In addition to the 27 Member States of the EU, and the Convention on Social Security with the UK, Ireland currently has Bilateral Social Security Agreements (“agreements”) with Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Quebec, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The agreements are limited to certain social welfare benefits and are predominantly State pension related.

The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has social security agreements. This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in one or more of these countries to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in these countries.

Persons working in countries (other than EU Member States or UK) can opt to pay voluntary PRSI contributions for Stat pension purposes, subject to certain conditions. The voluntary contribution scheme’s entry criteria require applicants to have at least 520 social insurance contributions paid from either employment or self-employment. Furthermore, an application must be made within 60 months (5 years) from the end of the contribution year during which the applicant last paid a compulsory social insurance contribution or was last awarded a credited employment contribution. Based on the person's contribution history, the voluntary contribution scheme may provide coverage for State Pension (Contributory), Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension and Guardian's Payment (Contributory).

Matters relating to the tax treatment of occupational pensions and other pension products fall within the remit of the Minister for Finance.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (490)

Conor D McGuinness

Ceist:

490. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy in relation to overpayments of social welfare; if it is mandatory to repay all social welfare overpayments or if it can be written off; if so, in what circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47298/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Overpayments of social welfare payments arise when a person receives a payment to which they were not entitled. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including delays in notifying my Department of a change in circumstances or where a person provides false or misleading information in their application or through error on the part of either the claimant or the Department.  Persons who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled.

Overpayments may be recovered through regular periodic payments, deduction from the customers’ on-going welfare payments or by way of a single payment covering the full amount owed. Overpayments can also be recovered through attachments to earnings of a customer, or to assets in a financial institution.

An overpayment will remain on a persons record and can be pursued up to future pension entitlements and following death, where an estate remains.

An overpayment is usually only written-off, or partially written-off, in circumstances where there is no prospect of future recovery of the amount due. In general, overpayments of deceased customers are written off where there are not sufficient funds in the estate to repay the overpayment.

In all cases of write off, should new information come to my Department, or a person’s circumstances change, then the debt will be written back and recovery pursued as normal.

A structured debt management policy in line with normal good practice in recovery of overpayments operates within my Department, including yearly statements issued to customers of outstanding overpayments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Public Services Card

Ceisteanna (491)

Eoin Hayes

Ceist:

491. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection if the database of personal information associated with those who hold a public services card, and accompanying biometric data, has been used as part of any application of artificial intelligence, either as training data or as a subject for analysis; and the safeguards he has put in place for the application of artificial intelligence on data held by his Department. [47393/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

No database with personal information associated with those who hold a public services card, and accompanying biometric data, has been used by my Department as part of any application of artificial intelligence, either as training data or as a subject for analysis.

My Department has established an Innovation Hub to assess and evaluate the potential future use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to support the work of the Department in a safe and secure manner. Use of AI in my Department is governed by the national and EU public service strategies and guidelines including the National Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland–Connecting our People Securing our Future and the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service.

• Written Answers Nos. 452-471
• Written Answers Nos. 492-494