The greater focus on spoken Irish at secondary level is important. We know students can pass their leaving certificate but they cannot speak Irish proficiently. Nonetheless, there is renewed interest, particularly in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. I note that Sinn Féin, with other agencies, had a huge role in promoting the Irish language in those areas. We can learn much from this. There are many people who would like to get involved in various classes and the strategy is available in that regard.

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