b'In 2020, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) DiscoverDr Ruth Freeman, Director, Science for Society at Programme generously supported FIRST LEGOSFI, said: We are absolutely delighted to be supporting League in the Republic of Ireland with a two-yearthe IET and Learnit to grow this impactful programme, grant, allowing us to significantly scale up the reachtailoring it to Irish schools and bringing engineering and impact of the programme. As well as providingand robotics to new audiences. This programme vital seed funding to build the capacity of our Irelandsupports the SFI Discover programmes central aims to delivery partner, Learnit, the grant supported theincrease public engagement and broaden participation development of Irish curriculum-specific resources,and access to STEM across Ireland.created in partnership with Dublin City University. Ross Maguire of Learnit says.While the All-Ireland Finals sadly did not take placeWe are hugely grateful for SFIs support which has in 2022 due to Covid restrictions, a team of Irishallowed us to reach thousands more children across Girl Guides from North County Dublin won theIreland. FIRST LEGO League is more than a robotics Breakthrough award at the FIRST LEGO Leaguecompetition. The concepts of cooperation and International Open in Rio de Janeiro in August.competition combine. Its the idea that, by working Competing against 100 teams from across the world,together, we all win. These fantastic young people the Irish Girl Guides team were awarded for theirare taking the first steps to becoming tomorrows confidence and capability across all elements of theinnovators, creators and problem solvers. Its not about competition. building robots, its about robots building people.We are delighted that SFI Discover will be In 2021-22, over 26,000 children andcontinuing to support the IET and Learnit for young people aged 4-16 benefittedanother two years on completion of this initial from FIRST LEGO League in Ireland. project, to enable us to build on our achievements and further embed the programme in Irish schools.'