AI Guidelines will help Transform how Public Services are delivered in Cork

The launch by the Government of AI Guidelines will ensure faster and fairer public services for people in Cork, Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has said.

Deputy O’Shea said “the launch of the ‘Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service’, provides a practical framework to help public bodies adopt AI in a way that is ethical, transparent and centered on better service delivery. This is a positive step that will benefit people across Cork by helping to ensure that public services are more responsive, efficient and easier for people to engage with”.

Deputy O’Shea added “These guidelines will undoubtedly support efforts here in Cork to improve how public services are delivered. They provide a clear framework for adopting innovative technologies and new ways of working, while setting a strong standard for public service transformation. Crucially, they ensure that public trust and people’s rights remain at the heart of any changes”.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins said “This is a very exciting time for digital transformation in Ireland. AI has the potential to revolutionise how we deliver services, make decisions, and respond to the ever-evolving needs of our people. These guidelines are about improving the services that people feel on the ground. They are designed to support and empower our public servants in delivering faster, more efficient and reliable services, with human oversight built in at every step. Responses are reviewed to ensure they are accurate, ethical, and compliant with privacy standards. This is about bridging the gap between policy and practice, and these steps show how we are backing that up with real tools.”

The guidelines also contain examples of how AI is already being used across public services, including:

• St. Vincent’s University Hospital exploring the potential for AI to assist with performing heart ultrasound scans, in order to help reduce waiting times for patients.

• The Revenue Commissioners using Large Language Models to route taxpayer queries more efficiently, ensuring faster and more accurate responses.

• The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine developing an AI-supported solution to detect errors in grant applications and reduce processing times for applications.