Education Policy
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-18
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Maria McCormack (SF), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State. He has made the case for the benefits of the STEM education programme even more clear from his remarks. The benefits it has for students are absolutely fantastic. I have to say, however, there would be an awful lot of students, teachers and parents absolutely devastated across the midlands if this funding were not due to be replaced with something else. I am asking - pleading, really - that the Minister of State goes back to the drawing board on this one and tries to see whether there is a different avenue. We do not have the facilities other big counties have. We are a very rural county, and the midlands gets neglected in a lot of areas. This is an area in which we are thriving. This school went to the world robotics competition in Missouri and won an award. We have to try to protect this. It is a very small amount of money if we look into the figures for the STEM engagement officer role for Laois County Council; I am asking, please. We are having a civic reception for this fantastic robotics team in Laois County Council tonight. The Minister of State is welcome to come along to see these amazing students. I ask him to try to find a solution.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-18