Ms Arlene Forster:

I will come in with regard to the texts list. To build on what Mr. Ó Buachalla said, reference was made earlier to the fact that there are currently no texts lists in the draft specifications. That is absolutely correct. Perhaps I could clarify a few points with regard to the texts lists. When the NCCA undertakes consultations on draft language specifications, we do not have the texts lists developed yet. This is simply because the draft specifications are just that; they are drafts and are open to change. It can be very difficult to ascertain the degree of change that may arise on foot of a consultation. In my opening statement, I mentioned that this consultation has been on the council's agenda at each of its meetings since the consultation went live in February. At the most recent meeting of the council in June, the likelihood of holding a second phase of consultation on the specifications was discussed. It was suggested that we would take all of the feedback from the current consultation, which has now been extended until the end of November, and use it to support our work in further developing the draft specifications. It is to be hoped that this reporting on the consultation would also be helpful in making decisions on the big questions regarding implementation, supports and choice. We would then be in a position to hold a second round of consultation on the updated specifications. At that point, we could certainly look at the feasibility of making texts lists available for that second round of consultation because we hope we will be much closer to having final versions of the specifications at that time.

I will go back to one of the first points I made. The consultation is ongoing and people can share their perspectives and thinking on those texts lists as well. As part of the overall process of developing texts lists, we also have an online survey that is open to teachers, parents and so on to allow them to share their ideas and suggestions around texts to be considered for inclusion on those texts lists. That is another way in which the public at large can contribute to the work. It is important to outline that in response to the point made earlier with regard to texts lists.