Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2022
106. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the Irish curriculum and Junior and Leaving Certificate level is fit for purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56858/22]
View answer108. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if the Irish curriculum will be updated to allow students to have a better level of Irish speech when leaving school including oral and written levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56860/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together.
There have been significant developments over the past decade in Irish language curriculum provision for learners in post-primary schools.
As with all curriculum development work undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the development of subject specifications is carried out by representative development groups. The Subject Development Group (Meitheal Forbartha) for Junior Cycle Irish and for Leaving Certificate Irish both comprised a range of key stakeholders with expertise and experience in the learning, teaching and assessment of Irish, including practising teachers of Irish.
In relation to Junior Cycle, following extensive consultation, L1 (Language 1) and L2 (Language 2) Irish specifications were introduced in schools in 2017 as part of Phase 3 of the roll out of the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015). This was the first time discrete Irish language curricular provision was made, in response to stakeholder feedback, for student learning Irish in Irish-medium and in English-medium post-primary schools. All students who started Junior Cycle from Autumn 2017 onwards are learning Irish as laid out in these new specifications.
Responding to requests received from stakeholders through the recent consultation on draft L1 and L2 specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish, the NCCA Council decided to undertake a review of the early enactment of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle. Accordingly, I understand that a report on the early enactment of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle is currently being finalised by the NCCA.
The current Leaving Certificate Irish curriculum was introduced to schools in 1995. The NCCA commenced work to develop Leaving Certificate Irish Specifications for L1 and L2 in December 2018. A consultation on draft specifications was opened in February 2021. In response to stakeholder feedback and requests, the closing date for this consultation was extended to the end of November 2021. I am advised that a draft report on those consultations was presented to the NCCA Board for Senior Cycle at its meeting on 1 June and to NCCA Council on 16/17 June and I expect to receive the finalised report in December.
The development of students’ skills in Irish language spoken production and interaction is central to the curricular specifications for Irish at all levels. The specifications espouse an integrated approach to the development of all language skills. It is worth noting that the specifications for Irish at Junior Cycle ensures all students have opportunity to engage in the assessment of their competence in spoken Irish, as well as the other language skills.
