Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the impact of the amalgamation of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta with the NCCA on the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4459/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In November 2012, the integration of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, was announced. This decision means that both bodies will be co-located in one office building, they will be enabled to co-operate closely in their work to support the teaching of Irish and will be able to share back-office facilities. The decision does not affect the statutory responsibilities of either body. In reaching this decision, I paid particular attention to the context of my Department's support for both the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and to the Education Act 1998, the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the recommendations in the literacy and numeracy strategy and the framework for junior cycle which I published last October.

I believe that the integration of the COGG with the NCCA will enhance the capacity of the COGG to meet its statutory functions. The COGG will continue to advise on and support teaching through Irish. The NCCA has a significant amount of work currently under way or about to be started on Irish language curricula at primary and post-primary level. As the NCCA will prepare curricula for Irish for my consideration, the staff of COGG will co-operate closely with their NCCA colleagues and develop resources that will complement these curricula. This will, I believe, enhance the quality of the supports that COGG will provide for the teaching and learning of Irish.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith ag an Minister for the reply. There is some concern that with the amalgamation of these two bodies, somehow the resources that have been allocated specifically to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta may become diluted as a result of the amalgamation with the NCCA. Can consideration be given to ensuring there is a ring-fenced budget to avoid a reduction in the amount of time delegated towards the development of the Irish language within the curriculum? Particularly at a time when there are staffing resource constraints across all sections, it is important, given the needs and challenges facing the Irish language, to ensure that proper resourcing is given to it. I ask the Minister to consider this issue and ensure that the separate identity and importance that is attached to developing the Irish language side of the curriculum is maintained and not reduced in any way.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand the Deputy's concern. That concern also has been expressed directly to me by other interested parties. This measure is about sharing back-office services and not about interfering with or reducing the actual front-line work being done in promoting the Irish language and developing the curricula to bring that about. Moreover, by achieving economies in the sharing of back-office service facilities, it pretty well ensures that the budget will be ring fenced. As the work is largely staff driven, the salaries self-evidently are ring-fenced and the resources around them will be considered. I will take on board the Deputy's remarks.