Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

We have all bought into the concept of ESOF and everyone acknowledges the positive role it can play. Given our aims for research and innovation, we need to be able to measure impacts more accurately. The prioritisation action group follows on from the research prioritisation exercise and was instigated by Mr. Jim O'Hara. It was concluded that the State would focus its research on 14 key areas to create the requisite economic impact without taking our foot off the pedal in terms of funding basic science education.

Through the action group, we are in the process of bringing all of the funders of research in this country to the table so that we can measure the impact of science, investment and outputs. We will move the conversation towards bringing science closer to industry so that our universities and institutes of technology will be able to create the types of Irish company we desire. This path has evolved from the situation to which Senator Power alluded and that obtained under previous Governments. Initial investment to build capacity came through the programme for research in third level institutions. We are moving into a phase of measuring impacts more accurately. This is a major challenge.

There has been a significant realisation of the fact that the scientific community has the wherewithal, human capital and skill set to be able to deliver for Ireland a tranche of new types of companies. We have not even begun to scratch the surface of what is possible. It is a question of mining people's creativity, but I do not know whether one can measure the bounds of that. There are boundless opportunities. The Government's job is to ensure we are either on the money or ahead of the curve in terms of realising those opportunities.

Senator O'Keeffe mentioned creativity. I met the Crafts Council of Ireland last month. Consider its creativity and products. If that creativity could be married with what is being produced in the Tyndall National Institute, our institutes of technology and so on, one could create the types of company we need.

It is significant that today Mr. James Whelton, a co-founder of CoderDojo, is in New York at the founders' conference. Along with Mr. Bill Liao he is rolling out programming courses to children outside of school settings on Saturday mornings in centres throughout the country. That is the type of platform we are creating but there is an inventory that has yet to be measured with the disparate initiatives happening around science, technology, engineering and maths, or STEM. Senator O'Keeffe has brought a new initiative to my attention and I hope I will be able to assist her and lend a hand if I can as a Minister of State. We must create the inventory of what exactly is going on with regard to STEM subjects so we can bring it together and co-ordinate those efforts. CoderDojo is one example but it only happens in certain geographical areas. We should see how we can replicate that across the system, which is required.

What is happening is inherently positive but it is quite disparate. My role as a Minister of State with responsibility for research and innovation is to try to map what we are doing and replicate it across the system. I do not want the Government to take control and become hierarchical, as much of it is an organic process of creativity. It will, by itself, create the type of jobs and enterprise we so badly need. Creating the inventory is important in assisting the various processes.

I have responsibility for the STEM subjects with my role in the Department of Education and Skills. We have moved to create a fund that will upskill out-of-field teachers on the mathematics side in particular. That will be done through the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick. It will have a vital impact in ensuring that the deficits that exist in STEM subjects will be addressed. It is only a first step.

I visited Finland lately and we had a very positive engagement with the Finns about their system. Our aim must be to move up the food chain. Senator Barrett made the point about mathematics teachers having a suitable qualification and that would not be lost on me. We should meanwhile ensure our teachers have the skill set and availability of continuing professional development that is vital to the system.

I am struck by the point made by Senator Power about boxer Katie Taylor. Arising from the suggestion, perhaps we could engage with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, in a way to try to introduce a short course in the junior certificate as a potential staging post for that kind of engagement. There should be no reason the NCCA cannot engage on the most blue sky thinking and how to roll this back to the education system. There may be a way to do this through the short courses on the junior cycle.