Following some enquiries, sponsorship was obtained from Engineers Ireland through their STEPS program promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). One of the aims of the competition is to have a ‘real-life’ problem which connects with a typical engineering problem. It is also designed so that computer resources may be used in its solution, including use of the Internet to access data required for the problem. The problem is set at the level of Ordinary Junior Certificate.

The first year of the competition was confined to the Midlands Branch as a pilot scheme. The problem designers and coordinators were Dominic Guinan, Neil Hallinan, Michael Brennan and Michael Moynihan. The competition went country-wide in 2014 and has been coordinated by Dominic and Neil since then.
Peter’s Problem is distributed to schools early in January. It is accepted by Engineers Ireland as an official Engineer’s Week activity. It is open to individual students under the direction of their teacher. Completed entries are returned by the end of Engineer’s Week which is generally in late February each year.

Peters problem 2016
Peters Problem 2016 Solution
Peter’s Problem 2015
Peters Problem Solution 2015
Peters Problem 2014
Peters Problem 2014 Solution
Peters Problem 2012
Peters Problem Solution 2012

The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, today (Tuesday 29th November) welcomed the strong overall performance of Irish students in a major international study of maths and science achievement in primary and post-primary schools. The results come from TIMSS 2015 (the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). 
The report provides an international comparison of student achievement in maths and science at Fourth Class in primary and at Second Year of post-primary. In general, students in Ireland performed relatively well compared to the other countries participating in TIMSS 2015. Ireland’s mean scores were significantly above the international TIMSS centrepoint in maths and science at both grade levels.



​The key findings of the report include:

• Irish fourth class students ranked 9th out of 49 countries in maths (up from 17th out of 50 countries in 2011)
• Irish fourth class students ranked 19th of 47 countries in science (broadly consistent with 22nd position out of the 50 countries that participated in 2011)
• Irish second year students ranked 9th of 39 countries in maths, (there is no recent study with which to compare this)
• Irish second year students ranked 10th of 39 countries in science  (there is no recent study with which to compare this)