Mr. Barry Convey:

I mentioned that in my opening comments. Up to now there has been a disparity in access to subjects like engineering and technology. The Department introduced technology as a cheaper version of offering STEM to all-female schools. As a result of that they are not getting the opportunity to access engineering. In some regions, female students do not have the opportunity to pick a school that they want to go to that offers engineering as a subject. This is a really unique opportunity for the Department of Education to fully support STEM in providing financial access to schools to encourage them. Schools should be able to kit out a full engineering room and that engineering room will allow teachers to teach engineering or technology. It does not give the opportunity the other way around: a technology room does not facilitate the teaching of engineering. With the review of senior cycle coming, this provides a unique opportunity for the Department to really support the development of STEM in post-primary settings through introducing the subject.