Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to address the lack of STEM subjects available to female students in secondary schools; the barriers to entry for female students into third level STEM courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49684/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This Government is committed to building upon our provision of STEM education in primary, post-primary and third level education in order to ensure that we have the graduates to fulfil the existing and growing needs in STEM and to remove the obstacles which have so far served to limit the involvement of young women in the STEM area. 

The soon to be published STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 and Implementation Plan 2017-2019 will explore the potential for increasing STEM options within schools with the aim of encouraging more of our young people, particularly more females, to specialise in STEM during their education and training.  Increasing the number of students (particularly females) choosing STEM subjects in post-primary schools will in turn increase the numbers progressing to STEM pathways in Further or Higher Education.

This will be complemented by the continued support from my Department of initiatives and programmes which promote female participation in STEM at primary and post-primary school such as I-Wish and Smart Futures.

Innovation 2020 - the Government’s five-year strategy on research and development, science and technology, has the goal of making Ireland a Global Innovation Leader, and by so doing, ensuring a strong and sustainable economy.

My Department's Action Plan for Education for 2016-2019 and the National Skills Strategy contain a clear commitment to supporting and developing STEM and in particular to addressing the gender imbalance.