The 2026 I Wish survey found that girls are likely to be excluded from Ireland’s AI future if gaps in subject access are not addressed.
New research from the 2026 I Wish Survey of Female Attitudes to STEM, has shed some light on how young girls risk being forgotten on the march towards Ireland’s AI future, if barriers to subject access continue.
The 11th annual report gathered data from 1,660 primary school students and 662 female secondary school students, in order to create a broader picture of how girls engage with and perceive the STEM space, as well as how they fit into it, both currently and with reference to the future.
The research discovered that, in a landscape where the demand for digital specialists in Ireland is expected to increase by almost 30pc in four years, just more than one in four girls surveyed, in single sex schools, have access to computer science at a Leaving Cert level.
While a lack of subject availability creates a significant barrier to continuing education in STEM, it can also prevent girls from envisioning themselves in STEM roles in the future, blocking them from industries such as AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud technologies.
60pc of contributors said a lack of confidence in STEM subject ability is a barrier to pursuing STEM careers and this figure has risen annually, from 55pc in 2025 and 50pc the year prior to that.
Commenting on the report, the co-founder of I Wish, Caroline O’Driscoll, said, “We ask girls to be ambitious, but ambition needs assistance. A girl may discover an interest in technology, engineering or construction, only to find her school does not offer the technical and applied STEM subjects that would help her explore it.
“Even when her school does offer these subjects, she may struggle to see a future for herself without encouragement, clear career information, or women she can relate to in those roles. The growing confidence barrier we are seeing in our surveys is worrying and raises questions about whether girls are getting the support they need.”
Greater visibility
Alongside having access to STEM subjects during school, access to adequate career information and role models were identified as being of particular importance to the survey’s participants.
More than 60pc of people said that a lack of school visits by accomplished women in STEM roles can have a harmful impact. Two-thirds of contributors said the same of gender inequality and insufficient career information.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD, who was present at the launch of the survey, said, “Ireland’s future competitiveness depends on developing the skills our economy needs. Strong growth in demand is projected over the coming four years for digital specialist jobs, yet women make up only one fifth of this workforce. Addressing that imbalance is essential to building the talent our economy needs.”
He added, ““I commend I Wish for giving girls a voice through its annual surveys and using those insights to shape its year-round programmes and inform the work of Government, schools and industry. By identifying barriers and helping girls see what is possible, I Wish is creating opportunities for the next generation. We must work together to ensure girls have the access, encouragement and support to fulfil their potential.”
I Wish is calling on those in the space to make access to STEM subjects, stronger career guidance and exposure to female role models, more equitable.
The organisation also highlighted the advantages of engaging in activities outside of STEM that can improve soft skills, such as sports, which often build confidence, teamwork and resilience. Social media was identified as a vehicle through which professionals can make their careers more visible.
I Wish co-founder Gillian Keating said, “We cannot afford to carry today’s gender inequalities into tomorrow’s technologies. Girls must have the opportunity to shape STEM, not simply use it. Starting early, with practical experiences and female role models, helps girls discover their abilities and imagine where they could take them.”
In February of next year, 4,000 secondary school girls from across Ireland will attend the 13th annual I Wish 2027 Festival at the RDS in Dublin to meet some of the women working in STEM and explore potential career pathways.
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