Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the findings of a recent EU survey by Eurydice, which found that Ireland is behind the rest of the EU in the teaching of foreign languages in schools in that 95.5% of primary school children here learn no foreign language; the way in which she proposes to address the issues raised in the survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7982/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to recall the context in which children in many European countries learn foreign languages. Many countries, for example, Belgium, Luxembourg and Finland, have a significant historic presence of other languages within their borders or in close proximity. This has created an imperative within those countries to learn those foreign languages. In other regards, far and away the most popular foreign language in European schools is English.

Language development is a central element of the revised primary curriculum. Although the focus is on English and Irish, a number of primary schools also offer foreign languages. My Department launched a pilot project for modern languages in primary schools in September 1998. The aims of the pilot project included the development of communication skills in four target languages, which are French, German, Spanish and Italian, the fostering of positive attitudes to language learning and the diversification of the languages taught in schools. To achieve these aims in the project schools, the teaching of a modern European language to pupils in 5th and 6th classes was introduced. Currently, 394 schools are participating in the initiative at primary level.

My Department is working closely with language experts from the Council of Europe to facilitate the analysis of language practice at primary and post-primary level, with a view to the formulation of an integrated language policy. This analysis will include the development of criteria for decision making on issues such as the inclusion of additional languages in the curriculum. This will complement ongoing work by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, which is engaged in reviewing languages in the post-primary curriculum and the feasibility of expanding provision at primary level.