Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD has announced the publication of a major report examining artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across Irish enterprise, highlighting opportunities for businesses and identifying barriers that may be slowing implementation.
Published on 13 October 2026, A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland: Impacts, opportunities, barriers and potential interventions examines AI adoption in manufacturing, construction and tourism. It also explores the role of the ICT sector in developing and supplying the technologies, services and expertise that enable AI use across the wider economy.
Prepared independently by Accenture for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the report aims to support Ireland’s ambition to increase the responsible use of AI, helping businesses improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness and drive innovation.
Announcing the publication, Minister Smyth said:
“Artificial intelligence is already changing how businesses operate, innovate and compete. Its impact will continue to grow, creating significant opportunities for Irish enterprises, workers and the economy as a whole."
She added: “This report gives us a clearer understanding of how AI is being adopted in manufacturing, construction and tourism, the barriers that businesses encounter, and the supports that could help them move from interest and experimentation to implementation and scale.
“It also recognises the distinct and important role of the ICT sector. In addition to adopting AI within its own operations, the sector develops and provides many of the technologies, services and capabilities that enable AI adoption across the rest of the economy.”
The report finds that, although AI adoption among Irish businesses is increasing, there remains considerable potential to expand both the number of enterprises using the technology and the range of applications being implemented.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may face particular challenges, including limited skills and awareness, data requirements, costs, technical capacity and access to appropriate expertise. The study identifies potential interventions to help businesses move beyond initial experimentation towards effective implementation and wider deployment.
It also emphasises the need for sector-specific support, recognising that businesses across manufacturing, construction, tourism and ICT have different requirements and may be at different stages of their AI journey.
Minister Smyth said Ireland’s National AI Strategy provides the framework for encouraging responsible adoption while ensuring businesses can access the resources they need.
“For our enterprise base, that means creating the conditions in which businesses of every size can access the skills, knowledge, infrastructure and supports they need to adopt AI with confidence,” she said.
“The findings of this study will help inform the next phase of that work. They provide an important evidence base for considering how policy and enterprise supports can respond to the differing needs of sectors and businesses at various stages of their AI journey.”
The findings underline the importance of developing the skills and knowledge required to use AI effectively. Training and education can help employees understand AI tools, identify appropriate applications and use emerging technologies responsibly.
For people looking to develop their digital capabilities, AI-related courses can provide an introduction to the technology and its practical applications. Businesses may also benefit from targeted training that helps teams assess AI opportunities, understand data requirements and integrate suitable tools into existing processes.
The report was overseen by a Steering Group representing policymakers, industry, enterprise agencies and other relevant stakeholders. Minister Smyth acknowledged the group's contribution, alongside the businesses, industry bodies, researchers and other stakeholders who shared their experience during the study.
The publication also forms part of the Government’s wider work under Ireland’s National AI Strategy. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will consider the findings as it continues to develop measures to support a more productive, innovative and competitive enterprise base.
Minister Smyth said the report would also contribute to discussions at Ireland’s forthcoming AI Summit, bringing together representatives from government, industry, research and education to consider the country’s AI ambitions and the actions needed to achieve them.
As artificial intelligence becomes more widely used across Irish industries, developing relevant digital skills can help individuals and businesses prepare for new opportunities. Explore AI, technology and professional development courses on Corporatetraining.ie to find learning options suited to your interests and career goals.
The report is available at A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland.
