Questions

1115. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether SOLAS, his Department, or the National Skills Council has any commercial, sponsorship or data-sharing arrangement with any AI provider in connection with AI Ready; whether any AI provider contributed to the course content; and whether a procurement process was held for its content or tools. [74062/26…

1116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the AI Ready courses direct learners to specific commercial AI products (details supplied), without referring to alternative providers; the criteria by which any such products were selected; and whether he considers this consistent with neutrality between competing providers. [74059/26]

1121. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures, if any, taken or planned to offset or mitigate the additional energy use and emissions arising from the AIReady.ie target of upskilling one million people; and how the programme is consistent with the Government’s legally binding climate targets. [74065/26]

1122. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the AIReady.ie course content addresses the energy use and carbon emissions associated with AI services, and the guidance, if any, given to learners; and whether any assessment of the environmental impact of the programme was carried out or considered. [74063/26]

432. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Government has undertaken an assessment of the potential implications of advances in artificial intelligence for Ireland’s future economic competitiveness and labour market; the skills, talent and workforce requirements identified; whether the capacity of the higher education sector to meet these re…

1486. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has assessed the future workforce skills that will be required to support increased adoption of artificial intelligence among Irish businesses over the next five years; and whether new training, apprenticeship or micro-credential programmes are planned to address anticipated gaps.…

885. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of the National Training Fund that is used toward AI upskilling; the plans to further engage in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51186/26]

113. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the outcomes and next steps arising from the recent AI workforce readiness national skills roundtable; the way in which these findings will inform measures to address AI-related skills needs and strengthen co-ordination across the education and training system, industry, and Government; and if he will ma…

149. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the roll out of aiready.ie; and his plans for future development. [49862/26]

1046. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has an any way to identify which Parliamentary Questions are AI generated; and the amount it costs, on average, to answer a Parliamentary Question. [45372/26]

275. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to support workers whose roles may be affected by the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies; and whether any national reskilling or workforce transition strategy is under development. [44277/26]

278. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of courses, training programmes or apprenticeships that specifically address artificial intelligence skills currently supported by his Department; the number of participants enrolled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44278/26]

751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any proposed National AI Workforce Transition Programme or related AI retraining initiative would apply equally to Irish citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU employment permit holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40994/26]

752. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the establishment of a National AI Workplace Transition Programme to proactively support workers whose roles may be significantly altered or displaced by artificial intelligence and automation technologies over the coming years, through measures including retraining supports, employer …

267. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether universities have been asked to report on the prevalence of generative AI use among students and staff; the risks have been identified for academic integrity and research quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35521/26]

269. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publication of the new national strategy on artificial intelligence skills and workforce development; and the measures being taken to ensure Ireland remains competitive in attracting high-value technology investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35621/26]

164. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way the newly launched AIReady.ie platform will specifically support workers who are at immediate risk of job losses due to AI; the plans that are being considered in expanding the platform’s content beyond introductory AI literacy to keeping pace with AI advancements; and if he will make a statemen…

170. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline future plans for aiready.ie and for upskilling programmes in artificial intelligence. [34391/26]

184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is concerned about the impact of AI tools on third level exam integrity; the measures that are being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34340/26]

191. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with further and higher education institutions on the impact of AI on further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34348/26]

214. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the targeted reskilling or upskilling programmes that are currently being developed or expanded for workers in sectors most exposed to AI-driven automation; the way in which affected workers are being identified and supported to access these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34…

1258. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department engaged with any firms in the private sector in the development of his Department's new national AI skilling platform, 'AIReady.ie'; if so, if he will list those firms. [32395/26]

1259. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of establishing his Department's new national AI skilling platform, 'AIReady.ie'; the annual cost he expects to incur on a per annum basis moving forward; the length of time he expects the 'AIReady.ie' initiative to remain in existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32396/26]

238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has concerns about negative impacts of AI on further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20375/26]

276. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the grant agreement for Ireland’s first AI factory antenna has been signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22068/26]