Ms Emer Neville:

We are recommending the implementation of two new Irish courses in lieu of the L1 and L2 courses that were outlined in the NCCA's draft specifications. The current specifications set out for L1 and L2 have the potential to cause serious problems for students and the Irish language community, one of which is the de-incentivisation to attend Irish-medium schools without some form of recognition for students sitting the more challenging course. As well as this, the ISSU believes there is a need to retain foundation-level Irish in order to ensure that all students can access ways of learning in their language. There is still time to look at other options to achieve more for students, rather than continuing with the L1 and L2 approach.

We are recommending the introduction of two Irish courses at senior cycle level: a mandatory communicative Irish course undertaken by all students based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and a further optional literature and lore course targeted at native speakers, students from Gaelcholáistí and students who are achieving a high proficiency in Irish. This approach would be similar to that of applied maths. The introduction of these two courses would provide students with the opportunity to fulfil a high level of communicative Irish as well as providing them with the opportunity to engage in a more difficult Irish course at second level.