Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his response. The reports published by the NCCA in the past couple of weeks are important and support the development of a new language curriculum at primary level. The Department must move on those reports as soon as is practical so as to ensure we develop an integrated language curriculum where language learning supports the development of literacy skills across all languages. This is particularly important for younger children.

We had the opportunity when discussing the Estimates in committee to discuss the substantial work that was carried out under the modern languages initiative, which started as a pilot project but became an initiative and was extended to a few hundred schools.

I was struck by a presentation made by Tanya Flanagan and her colleagues at the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education with regard to how they did their work. It was done well within budget and they expanded the initiative beyond the initial number of schools. That project will cease at the end of this month. Taking into account the challenging circumstances facing the Department, if any opportunity arises to continue it, it should be considered. The analysis and research done on the value of the project shows it has been most successful and beneficial. Suggestions have been made to the effect that it was more applicable to affluent areas. This is incorrect according to the analysis and to the oral submissions made at the committee. Some of the schools which participated are areas not regarded as privileged. Those involved outlined the value and the great importance they attached to the initiative. Anything that can be done to try to restore that initiative in conjunction with the recommendations of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, would be welcome.

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