Minister Burke commends trebling of budget for STEM grants for schools
Westmeath Minister of State Peter Burke has welcomed the trebling of the Government’s budget for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grants to €4.7m.
Sixteen Westmeath primary schools were successful in their applications, with many receiving €10,000 in additional funding. The local schools which have received funding are Drumraney NS, St Mary’s NS, Athlone, Kilcleagh NS, St Brigid's School and St Manchan's National School, Tubber.
Schools are receiving funding amounts of between €1,000 and €10,000, and the schools will receive eighty-five percent of the funding in 2023 with the remaining fifteen percent paid following a reporting and evaluation process in 2024.
The successful projects include a focus on coding, robotics, growing plants without soil, modules on AI, interpreting weather patterns, film and animation and student STEM Clubs.
Minister Burke said: "This is a necessary and important step in order to provide a comprehensive and relevant education to our students. Teachers and management of schools across the country recognise the value of this funding, as the Department of Education received over 2,700 applications.
"We know that students develop an interest in subjects from a very young age, and that it is important that interesting and relevant topics are made accessible to all students. We see in particular that girls often end up choosing less STEM subjects than boys when secondary school and Leaving Cert come around, although trends are changing in more recent years which is positive."
Westmeath Schools' Funding Allocations
St Patrick's NS Edmonton €10,000
Emper NS €10,000
Drumraney NS €10,000
Milltownpass NS €10,000
St Mary’s NS €10,000
Coralstown NS €9,484.50
St Manchan's NS €10,000
Kilcleagh NS €2,669.43
Scoil Phádraig, Milltown NS €8,000
St Tolas NS €10,000
Scoil Chruimin Naofa €10,000
St Kenny NS €10,000
St Brigid's School €10,000
St Etchens NS €8,873.03
Scoil an Chlochair NS €9,575
Saplings Special School €10,000