Ms Breda Naughton:

The interesting thing is that because we brought in the 40% oral exam for the leaving certificate, the number of young people who presented for the oral in the junior cycle increased significantly, so there was a positive backwash. I know they will be interviewing the young people who were involved. It would be better to wait rather than presume what the results will be.

I and another colleague have to go to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regularly and defend what is happening in the whole area of Irish. There is a lot of work going on in Irish at the moment, so it is alive and well in the Department and there is an awareness there of its importance.