  We propose a new realisation of light Dirac neutrino mass and dark matter
(DM) within the framework of a non-Abelian discrete flavour symmetry based on
$A_4$ group. In addition to $A_4$, we also consider a $Z_2$ and an unbroken
global lepton number symmetry $U(1)_L$ to keep unwanted terms away while
guaranteeing the Dirac nature of light neutrinos. The field content, their
transformations and flavon vacuum alignments are chosen in such a way that the
type-I Dirac seesaw generates only one light Dirac neutrino mass while the
other two masses arise from scotogenic contributions at one-loop. This leads to
the Dirac scoto-seesaw framework, a generalisation of the widely studied
scoto-seesaw model to Dirac neutrinos. The symmetry breaking of $A_4$ leaves a
remnant $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry responsible for stabilising DM. Dirac nature
of light neutrinos introduces additional relativistic degrees of freedom
$\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ within reach of cosmic microwave background experiments.
