Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for Ireland’s construction industry, with a major Government-backed report examining how businesses can use the technology to improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness and support innovation.
Published on 13 October 2026, A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland: Impacts, opportunities, barriers and potential interventions was prepared independently by Accenture for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. The study examines AI adoption across manufacturing, construction and tourism, while also considering the ICT sector’s role in developing the technologies and services used by businesses.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD announced the report, which will help inform the Government’s work to encourage responsible AI adoption across Irish enterprise.
“Artificial intelligence is already changing how businesses operate, innovate and compete. Its impact will continue to grow, creating significant opportunities for Irish enterprises, workers and the economy as a whole,” Minister Smyth said.
For construction companies, AI has the potential to support more efficient operations, improve planning and inform decision-making. However, the report highlights that businesses may encounter barriers when adopting new technologies, particularly around skills, awareness, costs, data, technical capacity and access to specialist expertise.
These challenges can be especially relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises, which may have limited resources to investigate and implement new systems.
The report calls for practical interventions to help businesses progress from initial interest and experimentation to effective implementation. It also recognises that different industries require tailored support, rather than a single approach to AI adoption.
Developing the right skills will be an important part of this process. Construction professionals who build their digital capabilities may be better prepared to work with emerging technologies, while employers will need to consider how training can help teams use new tools effectively and responsibly.
As technology continues to influence construction and engineering, skills development remains important for both new entrants and experienced professionals. Training in areas such as digital construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), data analysis and technology-enabled project management can help individuals understand the changing demands of the industry.
The report is available at A Sectoral Study on Artificial Intelligence in Enterprise in Ireland.
