Ireland’s public service transformation agenda moves into focus on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, with a wide-ranging programme of events examining innovation, digital services, collaboration and inclusion. Published on gov.ie by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, the day forms part of Public Service Transformation Week 2026.
Running from morning workshops to afternoon webinars and conferences, the programme brings together public servants, local authorities, universities, healthcare organisations and innovation partners. Its central theme is “Stronger Together: Delivering the Public Services of the Future”.
Public Service Transformation Week 2026 programme
The schedule includes in-person, online and invite-only events covering public sector design, artificial intelligence, official languages, data, procurement and community services.
- 09:00: Spreag Fís: Gaeilge by Innovation
- 09:15: Justice Sector Innovation Conference 2026
- 09:30: Design for Public Community of Practice
- 09:30: Family Literacy Support with Neil Griffiths
- 09:30: A Journey of Transformation at Donegal County Council
- 10:00: Innovation through LEGO Serious Play
- 10:00: Connected for Defence: Innovation Through Collaboration
- 11:00: Women in Leadership Driving Better Public Services
- 11:00: Innovating with AI in Official Statistics
- 11:30: Using Automation and AI to Analyse Data at Scale
- 14:30: Unlocking Social Value through socially responsible procurement
- 15:00: Open Data and public servant training
Irish-language innovation and bilingual services
The Spreag Fís programme opens the day at the Guinness Enterprise Centre. The two-day interactive initiative supports Irish speakers and learners working in the public sector to identify challenges, develop ideas and create practical solutions through Irish.
The programme also supports the Government’s target of recruiting 20% Irish-language staff by 2030. Participants may progress to further workshops, mentoring, a study visit and project development support. Registration for the two-day event is required before 23 October.
Design, literacy and local government transformation
A joint event involving the Design for Public Community of Practice and the HSE Spark Design Network will explore how design can help public bodies understand complex problems and involve communities in service development.
Elsewhere, SOLAS will host a practical family literacy workshop based on the Story Sack approach. Donegal County Council will present transformation projects involving digital fleet maintenance, grant applications, a smart bench and a heritage initiative.
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AI, defence and collaboration across the public sector
Innovation through LEGO Serious Play at Trinity College Dublin will invite participants to experiment with collaborative problem-solving. No previous experience is required.
The Connected for Defence webinar will highlight partnerships involving the Department of Defence, Research Ireland, DCU:Innovate and Accenture. Presentations will examine Defence Sparx, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon and the Defence Innovation Challenge, demonstrating how cross-sector cooperation can strengthen innovation capacity.
Other sessions will examine AI in official statistics, automation, data platforms, public sector duty implementation and the role of women in leadership. Organisations including the HSE, SOLAS and local government bodies illustrate the breadth of participation.
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What the programme means for public services
The Wednesday schedule reflects a wider shift towards evidence-led, accessible and digitally enabled services. Sessions on open data, AI, procurement and service design focus on improving how public bodies work, while language, literacy and inclusion events highlight the importance of making services easier to access.
Departments and agencies across government—including Justice, Defence, Health, Rural and Community Development, and Public Expenditure—are represented. The programme also aligns with the work of bodies such as gov.ie, the Health Service Executive, SOLAS and local authorities.
Key takeaway
Public Service Transformation Week 2026 shows that modernising Irish public services depends on more than technology alone. Collaboration, strong leadership, inclusive design, language skills and responsible use of data will all shape how services develop. For participating organisations, Wednesday 11 November offers a practical opportunity to share ideas and build better outcomes together.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
