Yes. eCollege and AIReady.ie are free, CeADAR's EDIH for AI courses are fully funded for eligible organisations, and Skillnet Ireland, Springboard+ and the HEA subsidise AI courses and awards for people in work. Who qualifies depends on the scheme.
| Scheme | Who's eligible (official wording) | Cost to you | How to apply | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skillnet Ireland18 courses listed | "Private sector and commercial semi-state businesses can join a relevant Skillnet Business Network, or one of our national Initiatives, and avail of our services."skillnetireland.ie | Varies per network and course. Some courses are fully funded. Skills Connect training for unemployed people is free. | Through the relevant Skillnet Business Network's course page, or the Skillnet Hub at hub.skillnetireland.ie. | Rolling, per network. |
| Springboard+3 courses listed | "free for unemployed participants and returners to the workforce"hea.ie | Free for unemployed participants and returners. People in employment typically pay 10% of the course fee. Level 6 courses are free. Springboard+ micro-credentials are 50% subsidised. | Online at springboardcourses.ie. | 2026 round launched 26 Mar 2026; courses start between August and 31 October 2026. 2027 round not announced as of 4 Oct 2026. |
| HEA Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy 20262 courses listed | "funding for micro-credentials under the Learner Fee Subsidy 2026 will be 80% for all eligible learners."hea.ie | The learner pays the balance after the 80% subsidy. | On springboardcourses.ie, for micro-credentials approved for the subsidy. | 179 micro-credentials announced 20 May 2026. Micro-credentials must commence before 4 December 2026. No 2027 call found as of 4 Oct 2026. |
| eCollege (SOLAS)1 courses listed | "All of our courses are free for you including course costs, exams, materials, etc."ecollege.ie | Free, including course costs, exams and materials. | Select a course on ecollege.ie and follow the instructions on the Apply tab. | Rolling, online. |
| AIReady.ie1 courses listed | "The Government's new AI skills website which offers free, easy-to-use AI training to the public."solas.ie | Free. | Sign up on aiready.ie. | Live since 23 Apr 2026. |
| CeADAR European Digital Innovation Hub for AI2 courses listed | "EDIH services are up to 100% discounted to eligible enterprises and PSOs."enterprise-ireland.com | Services are up to 100% discounted for eligible organisations. CeADAR's EDIH training courses are fully funded. | Enrol on CeADAR course pages, or contact CeADAR at ceadar.ie/edih-contact-us/. | Rolling. |
| Local Enterprise Office training11 courses listed | "Courses and events are heavily subsidised when not entirely free"dublincity.ie | Set per office and course. Not published nationally. | Book through each Local Enterprise Office's online booking page. | Rolling, per office. |
Who pays: Funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Network courses are subsidised; the learner or employer pays the balance.
Cost to you: Varies per network and course. Some courses are fully funded. Skills Connect training for unemployed people is free.
"Private sector and commercial semi-state businesses can join a relevant Skillnet Business Network, or one of our national Initiatives, and avail of our services." skillnetireland.ie
"If you are employed within the private sector or commercial semi-state you can access Skillnet Ireland training through your company." skillnetireland.ie
"Skills Connect training is free and is open to most unemployed people, subject to eligibility criteria." skillnetireland.ie
"Learners must be resident in the Republic of Ireland." skillnetireland.ie
How to apply: Through the relevant Skillnet Business Network's course page, or the Skillnet Hub at hub.skillnetireland.ie. Official site.
Who pays: State funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, managed by the HEA.
Cost to you: Free for unemployed participants and returners. People in employment typically pay 10% of the course fee. Level 6 courses are free. Springboard+ micro-credentials are 50% subsidised.
"free for unemployed participants and returners to the workforce" hea.ie
"those in employment typically pay just 10% of the course fee" hea.ie
"50% of fees subsidised for all learners, regardless of employment status" hea.ie
"those currently employed, self-employed, unemployed or returning to the workforce" hea.ie
"you must pay 10% towards the course fee at Level 7, 8 and 9" citizensinformation.ie
"Level 6 courses are free." citizensinformation.ie
How to apply: Online at springboardcourses.ie. Official site.
Who pays: The Higher Education Authority pays 80% of the fee for eligible learners.
Cost to you: The learner pays the balance after the 80% subsidy.
"funding for micro-credentials under the Learner Fee Subsidy 2026 will be 80% for all eligible learners." hea.ie
"HEIs will be required to verify applicants' eligibility for the subsidy. The eligibility verification will follow the principles of the Springboard+ programme" hea.ie
"You can apply for micro-credentials approved for learner fee subsidy on springboardcourses.ie" hea.ie
How to apply: On springboardcourses.ie, for micro-credentials approved for the subsidy. Official site.
Who pays: SOLAS.
Cost to you: Free, including course costs, exams and materials.
"All of our courses are free for you including course costs, exams, materials, etc." ecollege.ie
"you must be resident in the Republic of Ireland with a PPS number and be over 18" ecollege.ie
How to apply: Select a course on ecollege.ie and follow the instructions on the Apply tab. Official site.
Who pays: Developed by SOLAS with the National Skills Council and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Cost to you: Free.
"The Government's new AI skills website which offers free, easy-to-use AI training to the public." solas.ie
How to apply: Sign up on aiready.ie. Official site.
Who pays: The European Union's Digital Europe Programme and the Government of Ireland, managed by Enterprise Ireland.
Cost to you: Services are up to 100% discounted for eligible organisations. CeADAR's EDIH training courses are fully funded.
"EDIH services are up to 100% discounted to eligible enterprises and PSOs." enterprise-ireland.com
"The network supports micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-caps, and public service organisations (PSOs) in adopting advanced digital and AI technologies." enterprise-ireland.com
"All CeADAR EDIH Programme Services are 100% discounted." ceadar.ie
"This course is fully funded, supported by the European Digital Innovation Hub for AI programme, funded by Enterprise Ireland and the European Commission." ceadar.ie
How to apply: Enrol on CeADAR course pages, or contact CeADAR at ceadar.ie/edih-contact-us/. Official site.
Who pays: Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices sets its own course prices.
Cost to you: Set per office and course. Not published nationally.
"Courses and events are heavily subsidised when not entirely free" dublincity.ie
"entrepreneurs facing management, financial and operative issues commonly encountered when starting, growing or developing a business" dublincity.ie
"Roscommon Local Enterprise Office offers a range of training courses suitable for both owner/managers and their staff." localenterprise.ie
How to apply: Book through each Local Enterprise Office's online booking page. Official site.
Who pays: EU budget.
Cost to you: Free or discounted, depending on the project.
How to apply: Through the individual project or provider. Official site.
No courses match all of these filters.
Or browse all AI courses in Ireland.
Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
itag Skillnet
itag Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Dublin City
Local Enterprise Office Tipperary
Local Enterprise Office Dublin City
Waterford Chamber Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Limerick
Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Kerry
Cork Chamber Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Monaghan
Local Enterprise Office Mayo
Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny
County Wexford Chamber Skillnet
Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Laois
Cork Chamber Skillnet
Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet
Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet
Shannon Chamber Skillnet
Local Enterprise Office Louth
Retail Ireland Skillnet
University College Cork (Cork University Business School) with Anthropic
CeADAR
SOLAS / Department of Further and Higher Education
eCollege (SOLAS), delivered by Cenit College
CeADAR
CyberSuite Academy
For employers: the EU AI Act asks organisations to support AI literacy; several of these schemes can help pay for staff training.
Yes. eCollege courses are free: "All of our courses are free for you including course costs, exams, materials, etc" (you "you must be resident in the Republic of Ireland with a PPS number and be over 18"). AIReady.ie is the Government's free AI skills website, and CeADAR's EDIH for AI courses are fully funded for eligible organisations. Springboard+ is "free for unemployed participants and returners to the workforce".
Some are fully funded and most are subsidised, so you pay a reduced fee. Skillnet Ireland training is for businesses: "Private sector and commercial semi-state businesses can join a relevant Skillnet Business Network, or one of our national Initiatives, and avail of our services". For jobseekers, "Skills Connect training is free and is open to most unemployed people, subject to eligibility criteria".
For some people. Springboard+ is "free for unemployed participants and returners to the workforce", and "those in employment typically pay just 10% of the course fee". The 2027 round had not been announced when we last checked.
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