John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)

This afternoon, I attended an event in Buswells Hotel hosted by Engineers Ireland, where it was stated that 65% of the children in our primary schools today will work in jobs that do not exist yet. I recently attended Banagher College to celebrate the Laois-Offaly ETB STEAM showcase event that recognises more inspiring projects in robotics, coding and virtual reality; initiatives that are truly reshaping Offaly's future, bridging the gap left behind by the end of peat production and equipping our youth for tomorrow's opportunities.

The challenges associated with a transition away from peat-fired power were well flagged but the county did not sit back in its efforts to enable the next generation.

Science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, STEAM, were highlighted as an area for opportunity. The local authority set the pace with the introduction of the VEX IQ Robotics Competition. In 2018, only 16 schools registered for the competition; in 2024, that number increased to 82. I acknowledge the work of Ray Bell at Offaly County Council in pioneering this area, which is now a true success story. From that initial seed sown by Ray and his council colleagues, the culture has evolved with a can-do attitude. At the heart of this transformation is a strong partnership of local government and academic and enterprise partners coming together through the midlands regional enterprise plan. Supported by the EU transition fund and led by the local authorities of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, this collaboration is driving a forward-thinking agenda.

The LOETB STEAM programme is now a cornerstone of that vision at secondary level, creating spaces for curiosity, sparking innovation and enabling students to build skills that mirror the modern workplace by way of initiatives such as coding and robotics, the Lego League, Minecraft, virtual reality tours and podcasting, to name just a few. I have been delighted to interact with some of those initiatives and meet the students involved. There are many benefits to equipping our youth with 21st-century skills through critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication in a fun environment. When, for example, a team programmes a VEX robotic to navigate an obstacle course, members learn coding and how to solve problems under pressure, divide roles and meet deadlines. When students produce a podcast in a state-of-the-art studio, they master digital tools and find their voice. These experiences boost confidence, spark innovation and drive engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, subjects, leading more students to opt for computer science at leaving certificate level. There is a positive community impact in bringing young people together and building networks of support and belonging.

These initiatives showcase Offaly's creativity to parents, local businesses and broader communities, sending a message that our county is open for innovation and investment. The midlands ICT action plan forecasts 800 new jobs in the region over the next three to five years. We need a pipeline of skilled graduates. Programmes like these provide that pipeline, ensuring that our businesses can hire locally and our young people can choose to build careers at home. Momentum continues, with six schools in Offaly now teaching computer science at leaving certificate level, up from just one in 2021. More than 3,000 students engage in robotics each year. We have success stories such as that of Alex Dunne from Clonbullogue, who has progressed to McLaren's driver development programme and who tested for the first time today in Formula One, thanks in part to the problem-solving and engineering mindset nurtured by the STEAM programme as implemented in our schools. We must continue to build, innovate and invest in children in primary schools who will, in future, work in jobs that do not yet exist.

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