Ms Clare Austick:

I support the comments made by Ms Neville in her opening remarks on behalf of ISSU about making the core curriculum of the Irish language more conversational, rather than preparing students for the final exam. It all comes down to giving students options in being assessed throughout their curriculum. We recognise that many difficulties can arise on one day, whether it is a family bereavement, a personal circumstance that arises or if something goes wrong just because a student is having a bad day. This one day determines the trajectory of the rest of their lives in terms of access to third level education or the profession they go into. It just cannot go on like that any longer.

On Irish language reform, it has to be taught in such a way that students can engage, have fun and interact meaningfully, not just in a way that prepares them for an exam at the end of the day. They should learn a more conversational type of Gaeilge rather than the difficult poetry and harder language and terminology they learn, which is important, but the emphasis has to be on being able to engage in Irish on an everyday basis and to have a conversation with friends, peers or family members. That should be encouraged in addition to seeing the beauty of the Irish language and how it is part of Irish identity. I support the comments, solutions and recommendations made by ISSU.