13th October 2026
Study examines AI adoption in manufacturing, construction and tourism, alongside the ICT sector’s role in developing and enabling AI solutions
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD , today announced the publication of A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland: Impacts, opportunities, barriers and potential interventions.
The study examines the adoption and application of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing, construction and tourism sectors, including the opportunities available to businesses and the barriers that may be limiting wider uptake. The ICT sector is considered through a different lens, reflecting its central role in developing, supplying and enabling the AI technologies, services and expertise used throughout the wider economy.
Prepared independently by Accenture for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the report provides an important evidence base to support Ireland’s ambition to increase the responsible adoption of AI across its enterprise base. It identifies practical opportunities and potential interventions to help businesses use AI to improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness and support innovation and sustainable growth.
The study was overseen by a broad-based Steering Group representative of policymakers, industry, enterprise agencies and other relevant stakeholders. Its members provided expert guidance, practical insights and constructive challenge throughout the research process, helping to ensure that the final report reflects both national policy priorities and the experience of businesses operating across the sectors examined.
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." “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 publication of the report forms part of the Government’s wider work under Ireland’s National AI Strategy to promote the ethical, responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence and to position Ireland at the forefront of its economic and societal adoption.
Minister Smyth continued:
“Ireland’s National AI Strategy provides the framework for ensuring that we can capture the benefits of AI while approaching its development and use responsibly. 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.
“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 report also builds on the momentum generated by Ireland’s AI Summit, will bring together representatives from government, enterprise, academia and wider society to consider Ireland’s AI ambitions and the actions needed to realise them.
Minister Smyth said:
“Ireland’s forthcoming AI Summit will bring together leaders from government, industry, research and education to consider how we can realise our national ambition for AI.
“This report will make an important contribution to that conversation. By setting out the opportunities for Irish enterprise, as well as the practical barriers to adoption, it will help ensure that our discussions are grounded in evidence and focused on actions that can deliver the greatest impact."
Minister Smyth paid tribute to the Steering Group and to the businesses, organisations and individuals who contributed to the study:
“I want to acknowledge the considerable work undertaken by the Steering Group in bringing this study to completion. Its membership reflected the range of perspectives needed for work of this kind, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, enterprise agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
“I also want to thank the businesses, industry bodies, researchers and other stakeholders who generously shared their time, knowledge and experience. Their contribution has helped produce a valuable resource that will support the continued development of Ireland’s approach to enterprise AI adoption.”
The report finds that, while the adoption of AI by Irish enterprises is growing, considerable scope remains to increase both the number of businesses using the technology and the depth of its application. This is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized enterprises, which may face challenges relating to skills, awareness, data, cost, technical capacity and access to appropriate expertise.
It sets out potential interventions to help enterprises progress from initial awareness and experimentation to effective implementation and wider deployment. The report also highlights the importance of taking account of sector-specific circumstances rather than adopting a uniform approach to supporting AI uptake.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will now consider the findings in the context of the continued implementation of Ireland’s National AI Strategy and its wider work to build a more productive, innovative, resilient and competitive enterprise base.
The report is available at A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland.
ENDS
Back to Department News