Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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3364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans he has to advance education, training and maintenance of new digital skills, particularly STEM subjects, to assist girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41956/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Both the EU Digital Decade policy programme to 2030, and our national digital strategy Harnessing Digital commit to the development of digital skills for all cohorts, as well as to gender parity in STEM career paths.

Additionally, digital skills are embedded as a core strategic priority in the National Skills Council’s inaugural publication and strategic advice to Government entitled, . The council emphasises that digital transformation is reshaping the labour market and Ireland must respond by equipping its workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a digital-first economy.

The Government is currently updating our national digital strategy to better reflect the changing skills landscape, particular in regard to AI developments. Simultaneously, my Department is in the process of developing a new series of Technology Skills of the Future Roadmaps to address digital skills development.

As part of this work the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has commissioned a study on “Understanding and Forecasting Digital Skills Needs in Ireland to 2030”. This report will be one of the key inputs informing the Roadmap.

The Department of Education and Youth’s STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026 outlines goals and actions to improve STEM education for all learners, from early childhood to post-primary levels. It highlights the need to boost post-primary STEM uptake, especially among females, and to support inclusive learning across all backgrounds and abilities.

The centrality of digital skills to Ireland's future success is something I am acutely aware of. We will continue to work in partnership with all stakeholders in the skills ecosystem to shape a more agile, inclusive and resilient approach to skills development.