Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I note he said this initiative "has been" a pilot initiative. It is not a pilot programme because it became an initiative and has long lost its pilot status. The programme was exceptionally successful. Moreover, it had a small budget and my understanding is that it was delivered under-budget in successive years.

We submitted a freedom of information request on the matter. The only response we received was a copy of the NCCA report of 2008, a copy of the new national literacy and numeracy strategy and a Department official's summary of the 2008 NCCA report. We have all praised the Minister's admirable initiative in regard to the literacy and numeracy strategy. However, he seems to be sacrificing the modern languages programme in order to implement that strategy. That defies logic. Not only does the modern languages programme cost very little but one of the benefits in developing children's language skills is an associated improvement in literacy levels. The Department is refusing to make the link between the two.

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