More than €530,000 of funding approved for TechSpace 2021

• 2021 Tech Féile Online

• New STEAM and digital media Irish language resources

• Expansion of the programme for travellers

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, TD, approved funding of €532,840 in total for the TechSpace 2021 programme today. €446,340 is approved for operational grants and €86,500 is approved for capital grants. This funding will enable Camara Education Ireland to further develop the programme and provide more resources and training in Irish for the programme participants.

TechSpace is a national network of digital media spaces which is based in youth centres and schools that help young people to be active in creating digital and technical content in the Irish language. Camara Education Ireland provided training and support to teachers and youth workers online during the COVID-19 crisis. The programme plans to use the same approach in 2021. An increase in the number of teachers and youth workers participating in the programme is expected and STEAM/computational/digital media learning resources in the Irish language which will be provided to those participating in the programme will be developed.

As part of Tech Féile 2021, which will be held online this year, it is estimated that 60 organisations will take part in the workshops and the mentor programme, and participants will have the opportunity to present their initiatives at online meetings in March. On top of that, a new computer game competition will be held this year along with career guidance workshops/lectures.

The TechSpace programme has made an expansive development since its beginning with primary schools and youth clubs having come on board along with second level schools and youth organisations. The programme for travellers began in 2020, to connect STEAM and technology with educational opportunities for the traveller community. This development will be continued this year and 200 young people from the traveller community are expected to take part in the programme in 2021.

Speaking today, Minister of State Chambers said: “Camara Education Ireland has done incredible work in 2020, providing important online resources for young people during the COVID-19 crisis. I am delighted that my department is able to support the programme again this year. It is important that STEAM and digital media learning resources in the Irish language are available to young people, and that the language won’t fall behind in the technological world.”

“I am especially happy to see the development of Tech Féile online, something that will emphasise the work that young people are doing through the medium of Irish on the TechSpace programme. There is a full day of activities being planned with workshops, exhibitions, competitions, music and prizes and I’m sure that it will be a huge success.”