Ireland risks leaving girls behind in its AI future, warns I Wish

The 2026 I Wish survey found that girls could be excluded from Ireland's AI future due to gaps in subject access. This annual report, involving 1,660 primary and 662 secondary school students, revealed that just over a quarter of girls in single-sex schools had access to computer science at Leaving Cert level. The lack of subject availability not only hinders continuing education in STEM but also prevents girls from envisioning themselves in STEM roles such as AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud technologies.

Sixty percent of respondents cited a lack of confidence in STEM abilities as a barrier to pursuing STEM careers, with this figure having risen annually from 55% in 2025. I Wish co-founder Caroline O'Driscoll emphasized that ambition needs assistance, stating that girls may discover an interest in technology or engineering but find their schools lacking technical and applied STEM subjects.

Access to adequate career information and role models was also crucial, with over 60% of participants saying that a lack of school visits from accomplished women in STEM could have a harmful impact. Taoiseach Micheál Martin stressed the importance of addressing the imbalance, noting that women currently make up only one-fifth of the digital specialist workforce.

He commended I Wish for advocating for girls and called for more equitable access to STEM subjects, stronger career guidance, and exposure to female role models. I Wish is urging stakeholders to make these resources more accessible, highlighting the importance of engaging in non-STEM activities to improve soft skills and confidence.

The organization's 13th annual I Wish 2027 Festival in February will bring together 4,000 secondary school girls from across Ireland to explore STEM careers.