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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Nov 1988

Vol. 383 No. 8

Written Answers. - Language Training Facilities.

42.

asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has for the provision of language training facilities in primary and secondary educational institutions; and if she will give details of the number of students taking foreign languages to certificate level in the second level sector.

At present continental languages do not form part of the approved curriculum for national schools. At primary level emphasis is placed on the development and use of the two official languages of the State, Irish and English, with a view to facilitating the introduction of further languages at an early stage of post primary education. Software material in the form of filmstrips, tapes, teachers' handbooks and wallcharts are supplied free of charge to primary schools as aids to the teaching of conversational Irish. Most primary schools have hardware for use with the software material.

I have directed that priority be given to the needs of German, Spanish and Italian in the allocation of funds for inservice courses for post-primary teachers. Each application from a post-primary school for the provision of language training facilities is examined on the basis of the school's curricular requirements. The appropriate facilities and equipment are based on that examination.

The following are the number of students who sat for examinations in foreign languages in 1988.

Leaving Cert

Group Cert

Inter Cert

French (HL)

14,823

5,597

French

42,974

French (OL)

16,264

Italian (HL)

50

Nil

Italian

58

Italian (OL)

14

Spanish (HL)

563

157

Spanish

1,211

Spanish (OL)

386

German (HL)

1,555

114

German

4,106

German (OL)

668

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