Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide for the teaching of languages other than English or Irish in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32769/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Modern European languages are currently taught in 394, or 12%, of our primary schools as part of an initiative that was introduced by my Department in September 1998. The aims of this initiative include the development of communication skills in a modern European language, the fostering of positive attitudes to language learning and the diversification of the languages taught in our schools. In the participating schools, the pupils in fifth and sixth classes are taught one of four languages, French, German, Italian and Spanish. A dedicated support structure for the teachers in the schools concerned has been in place since the initiative was implemented.

At the request of my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, carried out a study on the feasibility of modern languages in the primary curriculum. It reported to the Minister in spring 2004 and its recommendation, that any decision on the place of modern languages in the primary curriculum should be deferred until the revised primary school curriculum has been implemented in full, was accepted. This will be 2007 at the earliest. In the interim, the NCCA is engaging in additional research and a number of pilot projects with schools participating in the initiative to further inform its final advice.

My Department is working closely with language experts from the Council of Europe on an analysis of language practice at primary and post-primary level, with a view to the formulation of an integrated language policy. The outcomes of this process, together with the NCCA's advice, will be key considerations in planning the future of modern language provision at primary level.

In any comparison with other European countries around the provision of modern foreign languages in school curricula, it is important to note that all students in our schools are already required to study our two official languages, Irish and English.