Government Unveils 90-Point Plan to Make Ireland a Global Digital and AI Leader by 2030

The Government has published its new National Digital and AI Strategy, setting out 90 actions to strengthen Ireland's position as a digital frontrunner and global hub for artificial intelligence.

The strategy, titled Digital Ireland: Connecting our People, Securing our Future, was published today (18 February 2026) by the Department of the Taoiseach. It builds on Ireland's established reputation as a European technology hub, home to eight of the world's leading AI model providers and sixteen of the top twenty global tech companies.

Among the headline commitments is a target to have 100% of key public services digitalised by 2030, with 90% consumed online. The plan also promises a new AI Office of Ireland, an AI Regulatory Sandbox aimed at startups and SMEs, and an International AI and Digital Summit during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU later this year.

The strategy is structured around five pillars: Apply, Grow, Invest, Lead, and Empower, covering everything from public service transformation and enterprise adoption to cyber security, digital infrastructure, online safety, and skills development.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

"We are at a pivotal moment in our digital transformation, with the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the transformative power of AI reshaping how we live, how we work, and how we interact as a society. We want all areas of the economy and society to benefit from digital and AI technologies, helping businesses to grow, improving our public services and ensuring everyone has the skills to succeed in a digital and AI-driven economy and society."

Tánaiste Simon Harris said:

"Digital Ireland brings a renewed momentum to our digital and AI ambitions across Government, ensuring we maximise the opportunities of the digital and AI revolutions, driving continued economic growth and accelerating a transformational change in how Government delivers services to the public."

Minister of State Séan Canney said:

"Digital and AI technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for businesses and our economy, for our public services and for our people. Investment in the National Broadband Plan and further roll-out of digital infrastructure will enable all parts of the country to benefit from these opportunities."

On the enterprise front, the Government plans to establish an Observatory for Business AI Readiness (OBAIR) to track how Irish businesses are adopting AI, alongside a targeted awareness and literacy campaign for SMEs. AI Sector Champions will be appointed to spotlight opportunities across different industries, and Enterprise Ireland will develop a sector-specific AI Adoption Roadmap for its client companies.

In research and innovation, the strategy commits to establishing an internationally leading AI Research Centre of scale, expanding CeADAR (Ireland's national centre for applied AI), and setting up a Quantum Centre of Excellence. The CASPIr supercomputer, capable of over 15 petaflops, is planned to enter service in 2027.

Infrastructure investment features prominently, with commitments to complete the National Broadband Plan by end of 2026, enable gigabit broadband to every premises by 2028, and create new subsea cable connectivity routes from Ireland to Europe by 2030. A new Cyber Security Strategy and Cyber Security Research Centre of Excellence are also planned.

Online safety, particularly for children, is described as a whole-of-Government priority. The strategy commits to working with EU Member States to explore age restrictions on social media for under-16s and to progressing age verification tools through Ireland's Government Digital Wallet.

On skills, the Government will publish a Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future, establish a National Skills Observatory, launch a one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform, and roll out a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign.

Implementation will be driven by the Department of the Taoiseach, with oversight from the Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness. The full strategy document is available on gov.ie.