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Rethink Ireland has launched the new €1.5 million Skills for Tomorrow Fund in collaboration with Deloitte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The fund will support innovative projects helping marginalised individuals and communities develop the skills they need to succeed in the future world of work. The fund will also support successful applicants to strengthen their impact through the practical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Skills for Tomorrow will support up to nine organisations over 2.5 years, with cash grants ranging from €137,500 to €200,000.

The fund comes at a time of shifting labour markets and rapid technological change, with increasing concern that individuals and communities already experiencing marginalisation risk being left further behind due to barriers to accessing education, training, digital literacy and employment opportunities.

Applications are encouraged from projects and organisations focused on improving education and employment outcomes for marginalised groups including young people not in education, employment or training, long-term unemployed individuals, people with disabilities, minority ethnic communities, lone parents and those experiencing educational disadvantage.

Launching the Skills for Tomorrow Fund, Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland, said: "As the world of work continues to evolve, we need to ensure that people and communities already experiencing marginalisation are not further excluded from future opportunities. The Skills for Tomorrow Fund is about creating practical and inclusive pathways into employment, education and lifelong learning.

"Through this fund, we want to support organisations that are already doing transformative work in communities across Ireland and help them scale their impact. We are also particularly excited to support successful applicants to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance and streamline the work they do every day."

Welcoming the launch of the fund, Lorraine Griffin, Chairperson of Deloitte Ireland, said: "At Deloitte, we are proud to support this multiyear fund with Rethink Ireland. We understand that Ireland's future innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders will need new skills to meet tomorrow. Through the 'Skills for Tomorrow' fund, we are investing in innovative approaches that support education, digital skill development and training opportunities so more people have the opportunity to succeed in the modern economy.

"As technology expands opportunity for those with access and skills, it can also reinforce barriers for those without. With the right support, more people can participate in and benefit from the future economy. Organisations serving communities are also facing rising demand and equipped with the right technology, they can do more and reach further."

Reflecting on the impact of previous funding, Stuart Buchanan, Head of Advocacy & Impact at YMCA Dublin, an awardee organisation of Rethink Ireland & Deloitte's previous fund, said: "Funding like this can completely change what is possible for organisations working at community level. It allows us to reach people who often feel excluded from education, employment and digital opportunities and provide them with the confidence, skills and support they need to build better futures.

"The long-term support from Rethink Ireland helped us grow our impact, strengthen our programmes and create meaningful opportunities for people who are too often left behind."

The Skills for Tomorrow Fund is seeking applications from two strands, the first is organisations providing supports for young people; and the second is support for adults. Projects supported through the fund should demonstrate innovative and evidence-based approaches to future skills development, digital inclusion and workforce participation.

Applications are now open and will close on 29 June 2026. Further information is available at https://rethinkireland.ie/current_fu...

Unit4, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for people-centric organisations, has launched international research commissioned from Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC) examining the transformation challenges facing professional services firms. With 60% saying their work volumes will escalate and/or become more complex in the next 12 months, there is an urgent need to modernise business processes. However, firms face significant challenges to retrieve time lost to fixing operational inefficiencies and errors, which are leading to project delivery delays and teams having to work overtime.

One group of global respondents indicates a possible way forward, as 33% say they are running their businesses on modern, integrated, cloud-based platforms, and therefore spend less time correcting errors. Compared to global averages these leaders in adopting cloud-native technologies experience less errors in finance reporting (leading firms: 29%; global average: 37%), and budgeting and forecasting (leading firms: 28%; global average: 36%). Firms in the US are the most advanced (36%) in adopting cloud-based systems, compared to Germany (22%) which has the lowest adoption. Business and Professional Services firms are the most advanced (43%) in embracing the cloud ahead of IT Services (36%).

"Professional services firms are facing possibly the biggest inflection point in a lifetime as technology disruption and volatile economic conditions encourage clients to reevaluate their use of consulting expertise," said Donna Dobson, Director Professional Services, Unit4. "PAC's research shows why modernisation of core processes is giving leading firms an advantage in terms of productivity and reduction of time lost on manual processes and error correction. As competition heats up, firms understand that limiting the impact on their workforce is crucial to retaining talent and delivering projects more efficiently."

30% of respondents internationally admit to frequent or regular delays in project delivery due to operational inefficiencies, which rises to 34% among IT Services companies compared to only 25% of Business and Professional Services firms. The Nordics has the highest percentage (34%) admitting regular interruptions to project delivery, compared to 26% in Canada. The state of IT infrastructures could indicate a possible cause, as 66% admit relying on fragmented application environments and 19% even rely on multiple systems requiring manual work and spreadsheets – a figure that rises to 30% in Germany. As a result, it is no surprise that many teams complain of having to work additional hours citing a number of reasons including:

68% – monthly or quarter-close bottlenecks

59% – inconsistent data models

55% – outdated technology

47% are being forced to spend time correcting timesheets while teams must work overtime in areas like accounts reconciliation (37%), project cost & profitability management (37%), and project timeline management (36%). More than a quarter (28%) of client-facing specialists spend more than 30% of the working week completing administrative tasks rather than focusing on their core work. IT Services firms struggle most with overtime with 40% regularly needing to work beyond core hours to complete tasks such as timesheet management, budgeting & forecasting and accounts reconciliation. This is concerning, given that IT Services respondents are also the most likely to say their workloads are going to increase and/or become more complex in the next 12 months.

"Many professional services firms are being pushed by clients to transform commercial models to better serve their needs, but this is only possible if firms embrace modern cloud-based systems," said Nick Mayes, senior consultant, PAC. "This will give them the agile, scalable foundations to deliver process automation and adopt AI tools, but it will require investment to optimise and integrate existing workflows so that companies have a single view of company-wide information....

There has been a recent surge in AI-generated online adverts promoting bogus state-backed investment schemes, according to FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), as consumers are warned to be on alert. The ads feature fake images or videos of high-profile politicians and businesspeople encouraging consumers to click a link to register for the scheme. This is the latest trend in an ongoing wave of investment fraud in recent years, particularly targeting people in their 50s who may be looking for investment opportunities ahead of retirement. New figures from An Garda Síochána show an increase of over 20% in reports of investment fraud in 2025 compared to 2024, with more than €20 million in losses. This upwards trend is continuing into 2026.

Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime with BPFI, said: "We are seeing a worrying rise in AI-generated online adverts featuring fake images and videos of well-known and trusted politicians and businesspeople. Fraudsters are exploiting recent news coverage of a planned state-backed savings and investment scheme to make their adverts appear legitimate. They often claim the scheme is open to everyone, but that places are limited and being 'snapped up' fast, in order to pressure people to act quickly. They typically promise guaranteed returns or a guaranteed monthly income. While these scams are targeted at people of all ages, recent trends show that many victims of investment scams like these are in their early 50s, often at a stage in their life where they are actively managing savings or making longer?term financial decisions for retirement."

Describing how the scam works, Ms Davenport continued: "Most investment scams tend to follow a similar pattern. Consumers are encouraged to click on a registration link and asked to fill in a short form with their contact details to receive more information. They may then receive a call from a so-called 'financial advisor' urging them to make an immediate 'security deposit' to secure their place on the scheme. Once the victim is convinced and has authorised the payment, the criminal will quickly transfer the money through multiple accounts, often overseas, where it is then cashed out."

Reports of investment scams to Gardaí rose by over 20% of in 2025 with over €20 million in losses

Commenting on wider investment scam trends, Michael Cryan, Detective Superintendent at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau stated: "Reports of investment fraud in Ireland rose by over 20% in 2025 compared to 2024, with over €20 million in losses. This upwards trend is continuing into 2026. Individual losses can start anywhere from €250 on a crypto scam, but for bigger investment scams involving bonds and shares, it can start anywhere from €10,000 and can increase significantly beyond this. While the amounts may seem high, victims are not necessarily wealthy individuals. They are often ordinary people who have worked hard to build up a pension or savings and are looking for an opportunity to strengthen their finances ahead of, or during, retirement. We would urge everyone, particularly those aged over 50, to be alert to these scams and, if they believe they may have fallen victim to investment fraud, to contact their bank and An Garda Síochána immediately."

FraudSMART partners with Age Friendly Ireland to raise awareness at community events

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland added: "These are very serious scams that can have a life-changing impact on victims. The best defence against these fraudsters is knowledge and Age Friendly Ireland is pleased to partner with FraudSMART to raise awareness at community events across the country in the coming weeks and months and help people recognise the warning signs. It is so important to pause, take time to check, and speak to someone you trust before responding to any unexpected offer. Importantly, people should not feel embarrassed if they are caught...

Increased R&D Tax Credit shows clear impact as companies prioritise research and innovation amid global uncertainty – IRDG & KPMG Report.

Specific Innovation Tax Credit urgently needed to bridge structural gaps in Ireland's R&D competitiveness framework

The 2026 Ireland Innovation Index report from IRDG and KPMG shows that Irish businesses are strongly committed to research, development and innovation (RDI), with fresh evidence that the Government's R&D tax credit is directly driving new investment, even as companies contend with geopolitical uncertainty, international tax changes and competitive pressures.

The 2026 Ireland Innovation Index is the annual nationwide survey by the Industry Research & Development Group (IRDG) and KPMG. This fourth annual report gathered detailed responses from a record 587 companies who are actively engaged in innovation across Ireland.

The findings show a significant boost in R&D activity arising from the R&D Tax Credit, which was increased from 30% to 35% in last year's budget.

69% of businesses say they have increased R&D spend over the past three years, while 77% expect to increase investment over the next three years.

In relation specifically to the recent 5% uplift in the tax credit, 58% of companies surveyed said they are directing this additional incentive into existing R&D projects, while 57% say it will support entirely new R&D activity. A further 39% say the enhanced incentive will support them hiring or retaining dedicated R&D staff.

The findings also show the importance of the R&D tax credit in attracting and maintaining R&D activity and jobs in Ireland, with over half (54%) of MNCs saying that, without the credit, 10% or less of their R&D would take place in Ireland.

For context, in terms of actual numbers of companies availing of the incentive, the latest available Revenue figures (2023) showed 1,804 claimants – the highest figure since the credit was introduced in 2004. In 2023, 225 large companies received over €764 million in R&D tax credits, while a further €213 million in R&D tax credits was claimed by 1,579 SMEs.

Companies claiming the R&D tax credit are also significant contributors to the Exchequer through corporation tax. In 2023, total corporation tax liabilities for all claimant companies were €10.53 billion, with €8.81 billion of that amount attributable to companies claiming in excess of €1 million of R&D tax credits.

The report also highlights the increasing strategic importance of advanced technology in Ireland's innovation economy. AI and disruptive technology is now a priority for 67% of respondents over the next one to three years, up sharply from 45% in 2024. This is the largest movement recorded in any innovation priority category over the four-year life of the Index.

'Disruptive technology' is innovation that significantly alters established industries and markets. The trends in this area reflect a profound shift in how Irish businesses are approaching innovation, with artificial intelligence moving rapidly from experimentation to operational deployment, productivity enhancement and product development.

Necessity for Specific Innovation Tax Credit

The R&D Tax Credit remains a critical pillar of Ireland's competitiveness offering and continues to underpin significant investment decisions.

However, many forms of modern commercially valuable innovation sit outside the traditional fields of science and technology, within which activity must fall in order to qualify. This tends to exclude innovation such as digital transformation, design-led innovation, advanced process innovation and business-model innovation, the report says.

As a result, 71% of companies surveyed said a specific new Innovation Tax Credit would enable more innovative work to take place in Ireland, while a corresponding 67% believe it would support new product and service development.

Almost half (45%) of respondents said an innovation tax credit would directly support increased IP creation and ...

By David Stephen

There is a recent report on The Verge, The Pope isn't AGI-pilled, stating that, "On Monday, Pope Leo XIV unveiled an encyclical letter addressing the societal implications of artificial intelligence. The letter, titled Magnifica Humanitas, warned that the "use of AI is never a purely technical matter: when it enters processes that affect people's lives, it touches on rights, opportunities, status and freedom." Alongside him was Anthropic cofounder and interpretability team lead Christopher Olah, representing a partnership between the Catholic Church and one of the biggest players in AI."

"The decision to partner with the Vatican was a strategic move by Anthropic, a company that's built its business on a carefully curated reputation of being a more trustworthy alternative than its competitors. Anthropic famously spent the last few months embroiled in a battle with the Pentagon over limits to military AI use, and a connection with another powerful institution could help bolster its status — and let it help shape future Vatican recommendations."

"In the encyclical, the pope compared AI to the Tower of Babel, a structure he describes as "supported by a uniformity that eliminated diversity and that chose homogenization over communion.". The world must "avoid the 'Babel syndrome,'" he wrote: "the idolatry of profit that sacrifices the weak, a uniformity that neutralizes differences, and the pretense that a single language — even a digital one — can translate everything, including the mystery of the person, into data and performance." In his reckoning, AI became not just a new technology, but a Biblical struggle. "The risk of dehumanization," he wrote, "is an ancient and ever-new temptation that today takes on a technical guise." The weight of those statements, not the technical specifics, is likely to be its lasting impact."

Human Intelligence

The first thing to care about, for humanity, in the era of artificial intelligence is human intelligence. Nothing is more important, even if artificial intelligence is 100% safe.

Humanity is at a stage in civilization where the needs for productivity are the needs [mostly] for intelligence. If intelligence is supplied, productive tasks can be completed. This means that as much as artificial intelligence can do, in any given task, if it is good enough, consistent enough and affordable enough, it can stand-in for human intelligence.

As artificial intelligence gets better, and human intelligence stays [say] static, there could be more displacement, or at minimum more competition — with machines.

Already, among humans, with rising population and possibilities with learning, competition for opportunities are ferocious. It takes much more to get less than what was possible, for the same amount of knowledge, in the past.

Now, machines have joined the race. The immediate enemies may appear to be corporations, profit, capitalism or whatever, but the ultimate enemy is actually the opacity of what human intelligence is, in the brain?

What exactly is human intelligence? What are the types? How does it work? How can it be improved for problem-solving? What are the clear advantages over artificial intelligence, to map possibilities for competitiveness? What are the prospects of advancement for artificial intelligence and how can human intelligence be prepared against that?

These questions are important because the vacuum with human intelligence is a risk in the AI era, where it is not just useful to blame AI as a blanket, but to ask the real question, and focus on the mind.

For example, there were several eras of illegal drug trends across the world, opium, quaalude and so forth. Some of those were phased out or reduced, yet, addictions persisted. Till date, there is still no major model in neuroscience on addiction, how it works, what it is and so forth, that can be displayed to drive willpower.

This should not be the case with human intelligence. Even with all that was complained about...