Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on proposals in Britain to make foreign language learning compulsory from the age of seven and if he will comment on the differences in approach between Britain and Ireland on foreign language learning among primary school students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30955/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is not meaningful to compare the foreign language policy in primary schools in this country with that prevailing in Britain as the contexts in both jurisdictions are significantly different. In Ireland, there are two national languages, Irish and English, both of which are given recognition under the Constitution. It is the policy of my Department that both of these languages are taught at primary level.

At present, the NCCA is in the process of developing a new language curriculum for primary schools. This work will be mindful of the literacy and numeracy strategy which I published last year. The recently published report by Dr. Pádraig Ó Duibhir and Professor Jim Cummins on the development of an integrated language curriculum will help to inform this process. The report recommends moving towards a language curriculum where children are encouraged to transfer skills acquired in one language to other languages.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I share the concerns expressed by the Deputy. The crisis in literacy and numeracy in the primary school system and the results that emerged from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA, demanded a national response. I published that national response in June 2011. Over time, the cost of that response, including the additional year of teaching for primary school teachers from three to four years of study and from one to two years for secondary school teachers, will amount to approximately €19 million. From memory, the language initiative cost of the order of €3 million. I used that money in the following way: by closing down that initiative. The NCCA recommended this although approximately 550 schools participated and got good results relatively speaking. We heard the same presentation. The NCCA, by which I must be guided, did not recommend making it mainstream throughout all schools. A new examination of this under way from Professor Cummins and Professor O'Dwyer. We will see what they recommend. They are considering a different way of approaching continental language learning in primary schools.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Did the council state why it did not recommend the expansion of the programme throughout all schools? The Minister said it does not compare to the British model and what is taking place there but other models exist throughout Europe. There is reference to a knowledge-based society and the importance of having a second or third language for skills and so on. All the literature and research has shown that the younger a child starts to learn a language, the better it works. We are lagging behind and this view is shared by many of the people involved in this initiative. The Minister should make clear whether it is a matter of money that is holding this back and, if it is simply money alone, perhaps we should consider other areas of expenditure.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Money is a significant factor but it is not simply money alone. English speaking countries, principally Ireland and Britain, are far behind other countries in languages for a host of reasons. This applies not only within schools. A young person spends only 15% of his or her time in school. The remainder of the time is spent at home or outside at play or whatever. In some countries, Finland, for example, there is an explicit policy of using subtitles in all television and film shows such that one can watch programmes in English with subtitles. Young people and adults in Finland learn English while reading the Finnish subtitles. There are various ways in which the acquisition of language is made easier. Popular music is mostly in English now but that was not the case 20 or 30 years ago. In a sense we are at a disadvantage because we are not getting the same cultural cross-references. People are probably learning more Irish now from TG4 programmes with subtitles than was the case previously. I await the new report from the two academics and I hope we will get a sense of how we can improve our linguistic skills, which are behind those of other countries.