Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to promote the teaching of STEM subjects, particularly among underrepresented groups such as girls and students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14909/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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, 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 STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026 sets out the ambitious goals and actions required to achieve and improve the STEM education experience and outcomes for all learners from early childhood and care, primary and post-primary schools. It recognises the need to nurture STEM in our learners from a young age so as to ensure they have the required skills such as curiosity, inquiry, problem-solving, creativity, ethical behaviour and persistence to operate in an increasingly digital world.

The second STEM Education Implementation Plan published in May 2022 sets out the approach for the continued promotion of STEM education until 2026. Some of the actions aim to tackle gender imbalance:

• Revise the training for early learning and care settings to include an emphasis on gender balance in STEM-related activities.
• Continued consideration of gender balance in the development and review of national curriculum specifications and Department of Education policies, strategies and resources.
• Exploration of the development of a national accreditation framework for whole school culture change at primary and post primary levels to address gender balance (and also to include equity, diversity and inclusion).