National digital strategy for Ireland – phase 1: Digital engagement

The National Digital Strategy (NDS) is a governmental policy initiative introduced in July 2013 by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Its purpose is to harness the social and economic potential of digital technologies for individuals, businesses, and public services in Ireland. This first phase, entitled Digital Engagement, focuses specifically on encouraging and assisting people and small businesses to deepen their use of digital tools and the internet.

The scope of the strategy is nationwide, aiming to deliver transformative benefits by promoting widespread digital adoption. It supports other government initiatives such as the National Broadband Plan, National Payments Plan, eGovernment Strategy, and the Action Plan for Jobs. Through coordinated efforts across public and private sectors, the strategy seeks to ensure digital inclusion, drive economic growth, and build a foundation for future digital innovation.

This phase of the strategy recognises that digital progress is dynamic and iterative. Accordingly, it focuses on immediate, practical measures while laying the groundwork for future phases. These future steps will address emerging challenges and opportunities such as trust, privacy, open data, cloud computing, and copyright.

The strategy is informed by stakeholder consultation, economic research, and evidence-based policymaking. It is intended not only as a framework for action but also as a call to all sectors of society—citizens, government, businesses, and educators—to participate actively in Ireland’s digital future.

Goals:

• Encourage digital participation among citizens, especially ‘non-liners’
• Help Irish small businesses develop and grow through digital trading
• Promote eLearning and use of ICT across all levels of education
• Enhance cross-government collaboration in digital transformation

Focus areas:

• Trading online and entrepreneurship
• Citizen engagement
• Education and eLearning
• Cross-government and foundational digital initiatives

The digital strategy is structured around three primary focus strands, each supported by a set of actionable initiatives and underpinned by foundational cross-government policies.

Trading online and entrepreneurship

Ireland faces a significant gap between consumer behaviour and small business readiness. While Irish consumers spent approximately €3.7 billion online in 2012, 70% of this spending left the country, and less than a quarter of small Irish businesses had an online presence. This disconnect signals missed opportunities in job creation, revenue growth, and innovation.

To bridge this gap, the strategy sets a target of bringing 10,000 small Irish businesses online for the first time, with at least 2,000 of them actively trading online within two years. This is supported through initiatives like the “trade-on-line” voucher scheme, which offers financial incentives for businesses to invest in digital commerce capabilities, and the ‘Winning With Web’ awareness programme, aimed at showcasing the success stories of businesses who have benefited from going online.

Government also intends to collaborate with digital industry players to bundle services, provide technical support, and encourage cost-effective entry to online markets. Additionally, case studies such as The Happy Pear and Gutterman.ie exemplify the practical impact of digital adoption on traditional businesses.

Citizen engagement

Despite increasing digital uptake, nearly one in five adults in Ireland had never used the internet at the time of the strategy’s publication. The strategy addresses this digital divide by focusing on inclusivity and digital literacy. Its aim is to reduce the number of non-internet users—“non-liners”—by half by 2016.

This will be achieved through awareness campaigns that illustrate the benefits of being online, including access to government services, communication tools, and e-commerce platforms. The BenefIT 4 training grant scheme will expand digital skills among target groups, especially older adults, the unemployed, and those with low levels of formal education.

Case studies involving older citizens who have learned to use email, video calling, and online banking highlight the social and emotional benefits of digital participation, such as reduced isolation and increased autonomy.

Education and eLearning

Recognising that digital skills are essential for both education and employment, the strategy promotes the integration of ICT across all levels of learning. From primary schools to adult education, digital technologies are being used to enhance teaching, learning outcomes, and administrative efficiency.

The Department of Education and Skills supports the rollout of 100 Mbps broadband in post-primary schools, professional development for teachers, and peer-learning resources such as the Switch On workshops. eLearning initiatives also aim to improve literacy in emerging digital fields such as coding, cloud computing, and data analysis.

The strategy points to long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes, greater student engagement, and stronger ICT skills pipelines to meet projected labour market demands. Through projects such as the Broadband Enablement Programme in Warrenmount and Coláiste Bríde schools, the tangible benefits of enhanced connectivity and support are documented and shared.

Cross-government measures and digital policy foundation

To ensure alignment and sustainability, the strategy includes foundational policies that cut across all sectors. These include the eGovernment Strategy, which focuses on delivering better online public services; the appointment of a national Digital Champion, tasked with promoting digital adoption and stakeholder engagement; and the creation of a cross-departmental group to coordinate implementation.

Efforts are also underway to gather better data on digital behaviour through collaboration with national statistics and research agencies. Accessibility and usability of online platforms are another priority, especially for people with disabilities. Ireland is actively participating in EU directives aimed at making public sector websites more accessible, and national resources are being developed to support inclusive web design.