Ireland - Statement of Strategy 2025-2028

Ireland's Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 was launched in 2025 by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE). It is a roadmap designed to strengthen the economy, boost high-quality employment, and position Ireland as a leader in innovation and sustainable enterprise.

The strategy focuses on building a competitive, resilient, and sustainable economy that supports businesses and workers across all regions of Ireland. It places a strong emphasis on innovation, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and enhanced productivity, reflecting the realities of a rapidly evolving global economy.  

Enterprise Support, Workforce Development, and Tourism Integration

A key priority is supporting enterprises of all sizes with growth and investment, with targeted actions to help businesses adapt, innovate, and scale. This includes strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a prime location for both domestic entrepreneurship and inward investment, ensuring the country remains an attractive hub for global business and job creation. 

The strategy also commits to creating high quality jobs, building on Ireland’s strong employment performance in recent years. Investments in skills – especially digital skills – will be essential to ensuring workers can thrive in today’s economy. By supporting innovation, improving regulatory environments, and investing in infrastructure, the government aims to empower workforce development for the future. 

For the first time, the strategy formally incorporates tourism policy, recognising tourism as a major economic driver and a source of sustainable employment across the country. The plan highlights innovation in tourism, regional development, and new policy frameworks to help the sector grow. 

Priorities for Digital Skills Development

The priorities for digital skills development center on building enterprise resilience and driving productivity through widespread technological adoption. Key initiatives focus on accelerating the digital transition across Irish businesses – including through the adoption of AI and strengthening cybersecurity capacities – with a specific target to ensure 90% of small businesses achieve basic digital intensity by 2030 supported by European Digital Innovation Hubs. Furthermore, the strategy emphasizes fostering digital inclusion through collaborative local partnerships that enable larger companies to support smaller enterprises, alongside prioritizing a skills-based migration policy to attract essential global talent to complement domestic workforce development.

Overall, the 2025-2028 strategy represents a bold, future focused approach – one that aligns fully with Europe’s wider push for digital transformation, sustainability, and inclusive economic opportunity. It sets the stage for Ireland to not only keep pace but lead on a global level.