21. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide funding to ensure that STEM officers remain in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50253/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, the promotion of STEM and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools and the Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy.

I commend the work being done by STEM officers and am aware that my Department has been in contact with the councils in the midlands in relation to their STEM Project Co-ordinators. The positions were funded under the EU Just Transition Fund, which my department had no role in. You will appreciate that the department receives many requests in relation to support/funding for initiatives, projects, resources, books etc. and given the range of funding already provided, the department is not in a position to replace this funding source.

Under the STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 the department continues to provide support for STEM including STEM related curricular reform, ongoing provision of STEM professional development, guidelines for STEM partnerships between schools and business/industry, partnership with Research Ireland to support education and public engagement projects in STEM and ongoing support of informal STEM education projects such as Scifest, Stripe YSTE, Science Blast and iWish.

Again, I acknowledge the excellent work being undertaken by schools and local authorities. In recognition of these efforts, my department has outlined how alternative funding sources, such as Research Ireland's Discover Programme, may be available to support the project and assist in advancing this important work.