Ms Martina Mannion:

Increasing the number of interpreters is a matter for work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth, which has responsibility for the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. Obviously, any increase in the number of interpreters would benefit the education system. However, the responsibility, in the first instance, will lie with that Department

Regarding the funding for interpreters and cost to schools, we in the Department are acutely conscious of the cost, particularly for special schools. As the Deputy knows, we significantly increased the capitation to schools last year in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. We are looking at all of those measures again in the context of the upcoming budget. I give some reassurance that we are acutely conscious of the costs associated with special schools, given the challenges they face. Capitation and other costs are very much on our minds in that regard.

In relation to the curriculum, my colleague Ms O'Connor will be able to give more detail but I will give a broad outline. The Deputy spoke about the primary curriculum. She may be aware that the Minister recently announced the revised framework for the primary curriculum. Work will then need to be done to develop new curriculum specifications. They will be developed over the coming years in the five curriculum areas. Subjects and toolkits will be provided to support learning, teaching and assessment. The Say Yes to Languages programme in place in primary schools includes Irish Sign Language as a component. Since the programme was introduced, ISL has become the third most popular language being chosen by participating primary schools. Of the 467 schools that participated in 2021-22, 92 did Irish Sign Language. In 2022-23, 89 of the 693 schools did so. In 2023-24, 104 of 1,200 schools will do ISL. A further four schools with special classes for deaf children and five special schools have participated in the programme and chosen Irish Sign Language as their favoured component.

Regarding post-primary curriculum development, as the Deputy knows, a short course on ISL is available at junior certificate level. It was prepared by the primary language initiatives and is a 100-hour course offered as part of the short courses provided at junior certificate. At senior cycle, Irish Sign Language is available as part of the leaving certificate applied programme. Students can take four modules and there is also a component as a transition unit as part of the transition year, which has a curricular component timetabled for approximately 45 hours.

The Minister has recently announced the senior cycle reform so all learning pathways in schools are to be accessible and equally valued. This is part of that broader reform of senior cycle. Ms O'Connor can provide more information about where that will fit in.