Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
85. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of Ireland’s Industry 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60483/22]
View answerGood progress is being made on the implementation of Ireland's Industry 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025. The key focus of the Strategy is to enhance the adoption and the deployment of digital technologies to the manufacturing sector through access to funding and supports provided by the enterprise agencies under my Department as well as through access to technical resources from the network of state-funded RD&I and technology centres.
Future Manufacturing Ireland (FMI) was established in June 2021 in my Department as a key mechanism to enable the coordination and alignment of resources which serve the manufacturing sector. A range of new initiatives by my Department's enterprise agencies IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are underway to promote the uptake and adoption of digital technologies and workforce development amongst the manufacturing.
We are also working closely with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and with Science Foundation Ireland, Solas and the Education and Training Boards. These initiatives include increased access to skills development, technology demonstrators, financial support mechanisms, digital assessment and technology road mapping services, the development of standards and the building of all-island and international collaborative relationships.
Delivery of the action items in the Strategy are ongoing and we are providing additional resources to enable firms of all sizes and capacity to embrace and adopt Industry 4.0 practices and to maintain the resilience of the manufacturing sector in our economy.
