€50,000 grant boost for Offaly VEX Robotics programme
Offaly County Council has been awarded a €50,000 grant under the Community Recognition Fund administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The funding will support the rollout of a VEX Robotics Programme aimed at engaging the children of new arrivals across the county.
The initiative, which focuses on hands-on learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is designed to foster inclusion, education, and skill-building among young people in Offaly’s newest communities.
By introducing children to robotics and coding in a creative and accessible way, the programme aims to spark curiosity and confidence in the technology field.
The grant was announced by Minister Dara Calleary, who leads the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Welcoming the funding announcement, Fianna Fáil TD Tony McCormack said: "This is fantastic news for Offaly. The VEX Robotics Programme is a powerful way to engage children in learning, teamwork, and innovation.
"I want to thank Minister Dara Calleary and his Department for recognising the value of this project and supporting it through the Community Recognition Fund."
The TD also paid tribute to the efforts of local programme leaders.
"Well done also to Ray Bell, whose dedication and leadership have been central to the success and growth of VEX Robotics in the county. His commitment to young learners is inspiring.
"With this latest funding, Offaly continues to position itself as a forward-thinking county where innovation and community inclusion go hand-in-hand."
The funding was also welcomed by his Fine Gael colleague, Deputy John Clendennen, who said: "VEX Robotics has been going from strength to strength since its introduction in Offaly nearly a decade ago.
"We've already seen huge success stories from schools like Tubber National School, Coláiste Choilm, and Sacred Heart Secondary School competing on the world stage. This new funding will help ensure even greater achievements in the years ahead.”
Deputy Clendennen acknowledged the pivotal role played by Offaly County Council and commended the leadership of Ray Bell and his team for championing and rolling out the initiative at a county-wide level.
"This is an issue I've raised in the Dáil," he added. "There needs to be a sustained and reliable stream of funding to ensure that initiatives like VEX Robotics and broader STEAM competitions can continue to grow and thrive with students competing both and home and abroad.
"I want to sincerely thank Minister Dara Calleary and the Government for this commitment, and I will continue to advocate for ongoing investment in this area."