In 2022, the EU adopted its Digital Decade policy programme which presents the EU’s commitment to a secure, safe and sustainable digital transformation across all member states. It outlines key targets for 2030, which include:
- 100% of key public services to be accessible online
- 80% of the population to gain basic digital skills
- 75% of EU companies to use Cloud/AI/Big Data
- 20 million ICT specialists
Ireland has a highly skilled population of IT professionals, with 70% of people having basic digital skills and 6.3% of employees being ICT specialists. The percentage of graduates studying ICT in Ireland has also increased from 7.8% to 8.6%.
As the Irish professional body for technologists and IT professionals, ICS works to foster excellence, innovation and professional standards across the ICT profession in Ireland at every level. To strengthen Ireland’s position as a digital hub, we need to act on our commitment to promoting digital skills and IT professionalism.
Collectively achieving digital transformation
IT professionals and teams are strategic technology partners that play a vital role in digital transformation in any organisation. ICS brings together a thriving network of over 4000 IT and technology specialists from every sector bringing a wealth of shared insights and expertise to bear on the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technology in cybersecurity, AI, and on the global challenges of sustainability and digital accessibility.
The expertise and accrued knowledge of the IT and digital professional community must be shared, captured, and leveraged to inform the digital transformation journey and meet the EU targets set out in the Digital Decade by 2030. The Public Service ICT Conference 2023, hosted by ICS and Public Service ICT Leaders on the 5th of October in Dublin Castle, will bring together public service CIOs, professionals, and teams at the coalface of digitisation of public services. This is an important opportunity to share knowledge, collaborate, and build momentum towards achieving our shared goals.
