Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In November 2012, the integration of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, was announced. This decision means that both bodies will be co-located in one office building, they will be enabled to co-operate closely in their work to support the teaching of Irish and will be able to share back-office facilities. The decision does not affect the statutory responsibilities of either body. In reaching this decision, I paid particular attention to the context of my Department's support for both the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and to the Education Act 1998, the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the recommendations in the literacy and numeracy strategy and the framework for junior cycle which I published last October.

I believe that the integration of the COGG with the NCCA will enhance the capacity of the COGG to meet its statutory functions. The COGG will continue to advise on and support teaching through Irish. The NCCA has a significant amount of work currently under way or about to be started on Irish language curricula at primary and post-primary level. As the NCCA will prepare curricula for Irish for my consideration, the staff of COGG will co-operate closely with their NCCA colleagues and develop resources that will complement these curricula. This will, I believe, enhance the quality of the supports that COGG will provide for the teaching and learning of Irish.

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