Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
66. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh maidir le na curaclaim nua Gaeilge don ardteist; an bhfuil i gceist aici déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh sé tarraingteach do mhic léinn le Gaeilge líofa an curaclam is dúshlánaí a leanacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [4636/22]
View answerMar is eol don Aire, tá an-bhuairt ar thuismitheoirí le gasúir ag a bhfuil Gaeilge mhaith acu mar tá scéal ann go mbeidh dhá churaclam Gaeilge ann ach nach mbeidh buntáiste dá laghad ann dóibh siúd a dhéanann an ceann is dúshlánaí. Cén uair a dhéanfar an cinneadh seo? Cén uair a chuirfear deireadh leis an tseafóid seo go mbeadh dhá churaclam ann agus na marcanna céanna as an gceann éasca agus a bheadh as an gceann deacair?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Dúnadh le déanaí comhairliúchán leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta, CNCM, ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí nua do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta. Tá forbairt reatha na ndréacht-sonraíochtaí do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta mar chuid den timthriall leanúnach athbhreithnithe agus athfhorbartha curaclaim.
As the Deputy is aware, the public consultation aspect of his process recently concluded. It deals with the new draft specifications for leaving certificate Irish. The current development of draft specifications for leaving certificate Irish is part of the ongoing cycle of curriculum review and redevelopment. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, opened the consultation process. In response to stakeholder concerns and requests, it extended the closing date at the end of November 2021. To support stakeholder participation, the NCCA employed a wide range of consultation tools, including an online survey, bilateral and focus group meetings and written submissions. The NCCA is conducting a detailed analysis of all feedback that is received. It is hoped that an interim consultation report will be presented to the NCCA council in June. A report on early enactment of Irish at junior cycle is also due to be presented to the NCCA council shortly. I look forward to the outcomes of these processes in due course.
Will the Minister confirm to me tonight that in no way could we wind up in a situation whereby there would be two curricula for Irish, with one being much more difficult and challenging than the other; that the marks for both curricula will be the same; and that this would also count for the same for the points for CAO entrance? While I know that is not directly the Minister’s responsibility, presumably there is co-ordination between the Minister and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. This would avoid a total farce of a situation whereby there are two curricula that are totally different, with one being harder than the other and there being no advantage to doing the hard curriculum. Who would bother doing it, under those circumstances? Certainly, I would not have encouraged my children to do it when they were doing the leaving certificate, even though Irish was our home language.
I thank the Deputy. I know that he has a particular and passionate interest in this. He have raised it on an ongoing basis with me. With all due respect, it has been raised by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and indeed by others here. I wish to acknowledge that there has been considerable engagement via the consultation process. For example, the NCCA has received some 740 responses in the online survey, as well as 240 written submissions. In addition, the NCCA hosted 13 focus group meetings in which there were 275 participants. Some eight bilateral meetings were held, and 19 individual interviews were held with teachers. Therefore, there has been significant engagement. That engagement is important because it will inform the ultimate decision that is made. To respect that process, it is important that I allow the analysis of that feedback, as well as the varied views, I have no doubt, that have been offered. We should allow that to be completed.
We have to have a system that will stop all the time-wasting by the ridiculous propositions that are being put forward by bodies charged with making sensible decisions. I, therefore, think that in this case we are in an exceptional circumstance. That is why I am asking the Minister to intervene and put to bed the proposition that there would be two courses, with one harder than the other, but the same marks and credits would be given for both. I cannot believe how much money we spent on all this consultation now, on what seems to me to be one of the most utterly ridiculous propositions I have ever heard. It should have been dismissed outright from the very beginning as a non-starter.
Teastaíonn uaim tacú leis an méid atá á rá ag an Teachta Ó Cuív. Ba cheart dúinn daltaí a mhealladh chun an t-ábhar a thógáil ar an leibhéal is airde gur féidir leo, seachas labhairt faoi T1 agus T2 a bheith ar chomhchéim ó thaobh pointí de. Ba cheart dúinn deireadh a chur leis an raiméis mar gheall ar T1 agus T2 a bheith ar chomhchéim. Má chaithfimid pointí bónais a thabhairt don chaighdeán níos airde, caithfimid déileáil leis sin láithreach.
I need to say that it is important in every sector, including in the education sector, that the widest realm of people who are involved in the process have an opportunity to put and to record their views and their thoughts. I accept the passionately and sincerely held views that have been articulated by both Deputies here. However, it is important, in the interest of fairness and the interests of the process, that all views and all shades of views would be facilitated in having their voices heard. That is exactly what this consultation process has been about, namely, facilitating similarities of views as well as dissimilarity of views. I have no doubt that there will be competing views expressed here via this process. I accept that the publication of the conclusion of this process needs to be done as a matter of priority. It will be done. However, it is important that the considered views of everybody who engaged - and the Deputies will can see that it has been a huge engagement by people - would be given due consideration.
I would like to let Deputies know that we are approaching the end of the session. We will fit one in more question.
