Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation from the Department. The teaching of languages is an area of considerable interest to many and I welcome the opportunity to shine a light on it at the committee. There is a prevailing attitude to the teaching of French in our secondary schools. Does the Department review this approach? Why are we not teaching more German? Have we reviewed the approach to the teaching of languages from the BRICS countries and other emerging markets. Up to 30% of students study languages at third level. How does Ireland compare to other EU member states and other countries for language uptake at third level?

There was some debate during the general election about the compulsory teaching of Irish in schools. Has the Department a view on compulsory Irish for the leaving certificate? I feel very strongly about this. From my experience of teaching, I believe compulsory Irish is its own worst enemy and does not help the teaching of the language. People should be allowed to do it themselves by their own choice.

The other bugbear of mine is the teaching of Irish. It has been a significant challenge to the State over time and to those teaching it. My four children were fluent in a second language before they went to school because their mother had a second language. From listening to it in the home, they picked it up quickly and became fluent speakers. It is a bugbear for me then that children spend 16 years in school but come out illiterate in Irish. I believed one of the problems was teaching people to read in the language. While I accept teaching methods have progressed, every language should be learned through speaking first and then reading and spelling can come afterwards. What is the Department’s view on the teaching of Irish in primary schools and lower-stream classes? Will the officials also elaborate on the teaching of Chinese in schools?