Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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837.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals, if any, to award funding to more primary schools under the STEM grant scheme in 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33123/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department of Education, and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools, Action Plan for Education, Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, Arts in Education Charter, and the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life. STEM education at primary and post-primary schools focuses on developing a range of key skills that are essential for living and working in today’s world.

The Department provides considerable supports for STEM through areas such as curriculum development, teacher professional development, the development of resources, the purchase of equipment, building of laboratories, digital technologies etc.

For example €50 million issued recently to recognised schools for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). and represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. Funding of €50m also issued to schools in late 2021. Under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020, there was an overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. A further €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility issued to all recognised schools at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021. Separately, my Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing high speed connectivity to all primary special and post-primary schools based on local infrastructure.

My Department also supports initiatives such as SciFest, ESB Science Blast, the Discover programme with Science Foundation Ireland and BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. in which many schools participate and benefit.

The STEM grant scheme was an action in the STEM Education Implementation Plan to 2026 which was published in 2023. A total grant of €4.7m was paid out, on foot of €25m of applications made, to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM.

The amount of funding available for STEM in future will depend on the priorities and demands on the Department’s allocated budget.