The Government plans to introduce computer science, including coding, as a Leaving Cert subject.

The mass return to school is under way across Ireland and, once again, the question is posed by many with dogs in the great educational fight: Are the country’s schools equipping their pupils for life in the digital age?

FROM small beginnings as a tiny club born at the National Software Centre in Cork barely five years ago, the CoderDojo movement is one of the most exciting educational initiatives of recent times.

Coding should be made part of the primary school curriculum, the education minister has said.

More than 800 young innovators from across Europe will take part in the fifth annual CoderDojo Coolest Projects Awards at the RDS on Saturday, when more than 10,000 spectators are expected to take in demonstrations of the apps, websites, animation, games, and robots among this year’s submissions.

Actress Saoirse Ronan and Web Summit co-founder Daire Hickey have been named on Forbes’ “30 under 30” list of high-achieving twenty-somethings.

A community orchard containing native Cork apples is to be planted in Clonakilty in a colourful project also aims to set strawberries, herbs, and vegetables in local green areas.

When she opened the National Women’s Council’s new offices in Dublin earlier this week Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald emphasised again that a lot more needs to be done to support women — and families — to ensure that more women are in a position to be decision makers in defining roles in society.

More than a third of Irish people believe that learning computer coding is ‘more important’ than learning Irish, a new survey has found.

From Italian fashion to food and photo-sharing, a select group of start-up companies based in the heart of Cork City are embarking on a 12-week course designed to hone their skills across an eclectic range of issues.

Comicbook illustrator Will Sliney tells Don O’Mahony about his new skill-sharing project

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

AT a family gathering in Cork City on a recent weekend, I walked through a Japanese garden, the owner of which is a dedicated cultivator of bonsai trees.

Thought- and voice-powered technology will replace smartphones and computers over the next decade, according to the co-founder of the company behind Family Guy, the game.

Five Cork bright sparks captured images of a galaxy over 2.7 million light years away while cruising 36,000 feet above the Atlantic.

Five Cork students aim to make astronomical history by snapping a picture of space using a telescope operated remotely from a flight to San Francisco.

Gender stereotypes and perceptions of difficulty are deterring girls from taking up science and technology subjects and careers, a survey suggests.

The CorkMEET business conference will focus on business networking and opportunities for Cork companies when it takes place on Apr 10.

The world’s youngest app developer was just another kid beside the dozens of Irish students teaching Europe to write code in a European Parliament meeting room.

Cork City Hall was converted into a technology nirvana yesterday as leaders from life sciences, technology education and investment took to the stage to plan for Ireland digital future.

A two-day summit featuring some of the world’s most influential technology figures is set to position the Cork region as Ireland’s answer to Silicon Valley.

The youngest ever eircom Spider Award winner was announced last night at the annual internet award ceremony at the National Convention Centre, Dublin.

CoderDojo is a not-for-profit organisation founded by James Whelton and entrepreneur Bill Liao.