Maths and numbers are part of everyday life and we all need these skills to ensure the future success of our country. This was the message from pupils of St. Brigid’s National School, Castleknock, who held a Children’s Budget Briefing event, with a special guest visitor, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Jack Chambers TD. Over 500,000 young people and the public are participating in Maths Week (11th – 19th October 2025) focused on driving home the benefits of maths and all the opportunities it brings for individuals, society and the economy.
Boys and girls aged 11-12 participated in a workshop in Mr. Michael Harrison’s’s 6th Class where they balanced the ‘Children’s Budget’, using their maths skills to decide how they would like the Government’s money to be spent. Maths Week Ireland Co-ordinator Eoin Gill led the exercise. The goal was to determine the children’s views of priority spending areas through discussion and debate and then to fairly and wisely distribute a nominal €100 budget among these areas. They broke into 6 groups or “cabinets” for discussions, allocated their budgets and a collective budget was then decided by the class using their maths skills to create an average from the 6 groups.
Minister Jack Chambers said, “It’s inspiring to see young people engage so thoughtfully with budgeting, demonstrating insight, concern and awareness of social responsibility. Maths is more than just an academic subject, it is a foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving; skills that shape every part of our lives. By nurturing confidence and ability in maths, we equip future generations to navigate an increasingly complex world. During Maths Week, let’s all champion maths and celebrate its vital role in the growth and success of our young people and our country.”
Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland Co-ordinator said, “Maths Week celebrates creativity and curiosity where we aim to show how mathematics shapes our world, and to empower every learner to see the boundless potential within themselves. The pupils demonstrated all of these qualities today along with great care and concern for our society and economy.”
The full programme and details of how to get involved are available on the Maths Week website www.mathsweek.ie. Follow @MathsWeek on Facebook, @mathsireland on Instagram, @mathsweek on TikTok and @mathsweek and #mathsweek2025 on ‘X’.
