Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2025
442. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the steps his Department is taking to improve data collection and database construction in anticipation of the increased data processing capacity that artificial intelligence adoption entails; if he will outline the logic behind their approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18366/25]
View answerGiven the type of work carried out by my Department the current potential for the use of AI with regard to our data is limited. The schemes and programmes operated by my Department do not involve large datasets or databases. Notwithstanding this, my Department places a strong emphasis on data management and is currently working on an information management project to bring greater consistency to data collection across our major schemes. This approach helps us ensure accurate and up to date information on the projects we fund.
The National AI Strategy outlines how technologies such as AI can open up opportunities to enhance the use of information through data analytics. These opportunities, and the adoption of any new technology within my Department will be based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. In that context, my Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies published on 1 June 2023.
