Twenty-four students have received Intel Ireland scholarships for third-level education. Twelve of the scholarships went to students of disciplines such as engineering and physics, entering their third year at selected universities. They will receive £2,500 annually for two years.

A further eight scholarships went to students doing technical certificates or diplomas in regional technical colleges or the Dublin Institute of Technology. These are worth £2,000, covering one year. Intel hires more than 100 certificate and diploma graduates annually. Leaving Certificate students from Intel's local schools in Co Kildare received the remaining four scholarships. These will take the students through four years of studies, at £2,000 annually.

The scholarships were presented last night by the manager of Fab 14, Intel Ireland, Mr Shlomo Caine, at an awards dinner in Dublin. Intel Ireland's expenditure on scholarships this year exceeded £150,000.