Minister James Lawless TD
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Technology is changing fast, and with that change comes endless opportunities — for workers, students, businesses and communities across Ireland.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reshaping everyday tasks, from planning a holiday to managing household bills. As these tools become more widely available, they have the potential to make our working lives easier, more efficient and more productive.
Skills and confidence needed to make opportunity a reality
My focus, as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is on ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, background or experience with technology, can benefit from AI rather than feel intimidated by it.
A report by the OECD highlighted clear gaps in Ireland’s current skills system, and the National Skills Council has rightly called for a more coordinated national approach. That’s why, in January, I brought forward a proposal to Cabinet to establish Ireland’s first National Skills Observatory.
our information on skills and the labour market is too scattered
and too slow to match the pace of change.
Consolidating information in one place
Right now, our information on skills and the labour market is too scattered and too slow to match the pace of change. The new Observatory will bring this information together in one place, helping us see the skills people already have, the skills employers will need in the years ahead and where future opportunities are likely to emerge.
AI is one area where change is happening fastest, and where we must act now to ensure workers, employers and educators can keep up. Research shows that 3 in 10 people in Ireland don’t feel comfortable with AI or digital technologies. In leading Nordic countries, that figure is closer to 2 in 10, a gap we simply cannot afford to let widen.
This is why I secured Government approval to develop Ireland’s first national AI Skills Platform — the State’s most ambitious AI‑skills initiative. My goal is to help one million people gain AI skills through short, flexible courses, developed with industry experts and accessible to all. With the right investment in our education and skills system — with pathways that help people learn, upskill and reskill throughout their lives — we can ensure they’re ready for whatever comes next.
