Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is working with the Department of Education and Youth to improve gender balance in STEM subject uptake at second level, with a view to influencing third-level course choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54977/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future commits to advancing STEM education, digital skills, and inclusion, with a strong focus on increasing girls’ participation in coding, maths, and ICT. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth, is implementing several key initiatives to improve gender balance in STEM at second level and beyond.

Central policies include the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026, Technology 2022 (Ireland’s Third ICT Action Plan), the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, Springboard+, Human Capital Initiative (HCI), SOLAS Skills to Compete and Advance, and Skillnet Ireland Programmes.

Through Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, the Department supports the STEM Policy and Digital Strategy, aiming to boost female participation and engagement across the research pipeline. Under Impact 2030, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are recognised as essential for stronger, more representative research outcomes. Research Ireland’s EDI Strategy 2023–2028 prioritises increasing participation by women and underrepresented groups in research and innovation.

The Research Ireland Discover Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education, supports STEM engagement through initiatives such as Curious Minds, which provides schools with resources, teacher training, and hands-on learning. In 2025, €6.5 million was invested in 40 STEM engagement projects, reaching thousands of students nationwide.

In 2024, €365,000 was allocated by the HEA for ICT Summer Camps, engaging 3,982 second-level students, with 51% female participation. Several HEIs ran girl-focused camps, including DCU’s Robotics for Irish Girl Guides, IADT’s Young Women in Computing, and UCC’s Coding for Girls.

Springboard+ 2025, which now includes Micro-credentials, has a strong STEM focus, with 38% of courses in STEM areas; all of these areas demonstrate the responsiveness of the higher education sector to advances in technology and changes in our environment.

The I WISH initiative further inspires teenage girls through mentorship, entrepreneurship, and global STEM showcase events, supported by HCI projects such as REEDI and Virtual Labs.

Together, these coordinated actions aim to foster early STEM engagement, strengthen gender balance, and support women’s progression into STEM careers and higher education.