Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive briefing. It has raised many questions around pushing forward and promoting STEM subjects. Dr. Gormley mentioned the VEX Robotics competition. I concur with that. It was very much promoted in my constituency in County Offaly. Offaly County Council had a huge role in it I commend the staff and Mr. Ray Bell. It was a huge success. Some 1,500 students participated in 60 schools last year alone. That is phenomenal. There is no doubt but that is positive. Do we have any data or evaluation report showing this positivity and progress in the area of STEM? Do we have anything that shows that competitions like VEX Robotics are paying off and that there are benefits in terms of more students, and female students in particular, taking up STEM subjects in ETB schools? This robotics competition is focused on the senior end of primary school. I would expect more of a shift towards the STEM subjects when these students go to second level but that is only an assumption. Do we have any data or an evaluation report? I would like to see the robotics competition pushed out further and extended to the junior end of primary school because it is such a success. It would be a pity not to push it out and promote it even more.