The philanthropic arm of Google has announced a €1m grant for the children's charity Barnardos.

The money will be used to help make the internet safer for over 75,000 Irish children.

The grant was announced on Wednesday by Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Dublin, during a visit to local schools with Education Minister Joe McHugh.

As part of the grant, a four-year education programme will be rolled out in schools across the country.

Over 4,000 workshops will be held in 1,000 schools, with Google and Barnardos aiming to reach up to 10,000 students in the first year of the programme and over 75,000 students overall.

Along with the Barnardos grant, the internet company also unveiled its 'Be Internet Legends' programme - designed to provide the necessary online safety resources to parents, children and teachers who are not able to access the Barnardos programme in person, or who feel that they need further support.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai (left) and Education Minister Joe McHugh at Google's Dublin headquarters | Image: Supplied

Speaking at the launch, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said: "Through programs such as our Be Internet Legends effort, we are empowering young people to be safe explorers of our digital world.

"We're proud to be working with Barnardos to bring online safety education to more young people in Ireland."

Minister McHugh said: "As technology continues to evolve and integrate more seamlessly into school children's lives, it's now more important than ever that we help children be safe online.

"While the internet provides endless educational opportunities, we cannot be blind to its dangers and it's crucial that we strive not only to protect our children online but also to educate them on how to protect themselves."

Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO, added: "We are delighted to partner with Google.org to roll out this important programme to schools across Ireland.

"The digital world can pose significant risk to children if they do not know how to recognise inappropriate material or react to suspicious behaviour online.

"It is our hope that through this partnership, we will equip children, parents and teachers with the skills, resources and knowledge to ensure they can safely explore and experience the positive opportunities the internet offers - all while minimising the risks."

The programme will be rolled out from September 2019 and schools can contact onlinesafety@barnardos.ie for more information