Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending. Will the Minister for Education and Skills consider joining Ireland to the New York Academy Global Network and attending the global science, engineering, technology and mathematics, STEM, alliance international launch? This is due to happen at the United Nations next September. We all regularly speak about the importance of education and skills and focusing on science, engineering, technology and mathematics. The future of the global economy relies on the education of our children today and the technology and intelligence that can make the planet a better place for us all. A colleague in America mentioned that I was serving as a Senator and I was approached by a staff member of the New York Academy of Sciences. This is a no-brainer. The children of the country would be able to interact and discuss science, technology and mathematics with their counterparts around the world and participate in mentoring relationships with the most brilliant early career scientists through this alliance. I have all the details and I am interested in what the Minister has to say.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, to outline the current position to the House.

The Department of Education and Skills recognises the need to provide ready access to STEM career role models-pathways-information for young people. This is the ethos underpinning the Smart Futures programme, the recently launched Government-industry initiative co-ordinated by Science Foundation Ireland. The Government is incorporating STEM for students in primary and post-primary schools across the country, through curricular reform at junior and senior cycle, for example, through the high profile Project Maths initiative.

The ICT action plan 2014-18 was developed as a direct response to specific skills shortages in the ICT sector. It outlines a range of short, medium and long-term measures to develop a sustainable domestic supply of high quality ICT graduates to support the further expansion and development of the ICT sector and support innovation and growth across other sectors of the economy. Ireland's education system will have a critical role to play in the coming decades as we seek to build an innovative, knowledge-based economy that will provide sustainable employment opportunities and an informed citizenship. Central to this is a commitment to build on our provision of STEM in primary, post-primary and third level education. We also need to strengthen and expand the entrepreneurial partnerships that are evolving between industry and schools which will make STEM become a reality for students, not just an academic curiosity. Competitions such as the BT Young Scientist Exhibition and SciFest give students an opportunity to showcase their knowledge.

The Government is promoting science, technology, engineering and maths to students in primary and secondary schools across the country. The message is beginning to get through to school leavers and other potential students that there are increasing employment opportunities for high quality graduates in these disciplines. Such is the priority accorded to it, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for research and innovation, Deputy Sean Sherlock, has responsibility through both the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for promoting STEM. The Department of Education and Skills considers it to be a priority to focus on the current national initiatives such as the promotion of STEM in schools and the Smart Futures programme in industry and academia which aim to motivate young people's interests and aspirations in the STEM areas. Given the ongoing range of work, it is not considered timely to join the NY Academy Global Network. However, the Department is supportive of this initiative and will be interested to hear about its progress.

Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply, but I am a little disappointed. I admire the work being done in the STEM area and acknowledge the focus the Department has put on it. I have a little girl aged 14 years and I am well aware of the focus on STEM in the education system. However, this is low hanging fruit. I am sometimes critical of the Internet and the effect it might have on young people, but this is a global social network for highly gifted students to be mentored and network among each other. If the Minister of State does not mind, I will pursue the Department and keep in touch in this regard. In recent weeks the United Kingdom, China, Qatar, Kuwait, Serbia and Nigeria have joined the alliance. I fail to understand why Ireland will not do so and will not sent representatives to attend the launch at the United Nations in September because it is for the good of young people.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The bottom line is that the Department is supportive of the initiative and asked to be kept informed of progress in this regard. The door is half open. I leave it up to the Senator to make sure it will be opened fully.