Press release
Government seeks views on Ireland’s Digital Strategy
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
The new Strategy aims to map out how we can positively embrace digital advances for the benefit of our society and economy. It is an important opportunity to articulate a vision and level of ambition for how Ireland can grasp the opportunities offered by digitalisation and respond to its challenges.
This new Strategy seeks to support and shape the impact of technology for good and manage the transformation in an inclusive and citizen centred way. This public consultation will ensure that the public’s concerns, needs and ambitions are at the heart of the Strategy.
The Strategy will seek to build on progress made by the previous Strategy, launched in 2013. The 2013 Strategy focused on Doing More with Digital, and now the Government is seeking the public’s views on what the new Strategy will look like.
Launching the public consultation, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said:
"Digitalisation has brought huge benefits for individuals, businesses, and communities across Ireland, but it also presents challenges.
"For example, making public services available online is convenient for citizens and saves time and money, but the move to online retail has posed some difficulties for traditional retailers and we know that some citizens still feel left behind as our society becomes increasingly digital.
"Our previous National Digital Strategy was drawn up five years ago, and now we want to update it. We would like members of the public to get involved, so if you have an interest in this area I would encourage you to make your views known through the Government website gov.ie.
"This is an opportunity to ensure the Government prioritises the issues that matter to you. We want to support all citizens and businesses to take full advantage of digital opportunities in every aspect of their lives.
Submissions can be made by filling out the form on gov.ie, and submitting it online. The form can also be emailed NationalDigitalStrategy@taoiseach.gov.ie or printed and posted to: National Digital Strategy team, Department of the Taoiseach, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
The consultation runs for a period of one month, closing on Friday November 23, 2018 . Following the closing of the consultation period, submissions will be published online.
The development of a new National Digital Strategy is being led as a shared effort by the Department of the Taoiseach; Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
A Digital Strategy Interdepartmental Group including representatives from all Departments is supporting its development ensuring a comprehensive whole-of-Government approach.
As committed to in the Action Plan for Jobs, a Framework for Developing a new National Digital Strategy has been completed, which went to Government in July, and reflected preliminary stakeholder consultations with civic society, enterprise representatives, industry, education providers and academia.
The public consultation moves us forward in the process of more exhaustive consultation and stakeholder engagement to help us carve out the issues and create a strong new National Digital Strategy.
The Strategy will cover a broad range of societal and economic areas including, infrastructure and security; data, privacy and regulation; education and skills; trust, wellbeing and inclusion; digital public services, and innovation, the digital economy, and labour market changes.