Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the educational policy of Conradh na Gaeilge one plus one plus one as the preferred method of teaching language in the primary school system here; her proposals to implement this policy; if she has estimated the cost of the implementation of this policy in the primary school system here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36506/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Copies of the policy document referred to in Deputy Kenny's question have been received in my Department a few days ago. I note that the policy outlined by Conradh na Gaeilge proposes the following: that as part of their pre-service programme, teachers of languages at primary and post-primary levels would participate in a total immersion programme of one year's duration in a place where the particular language was the ordinary medium of communication; that as well as learning Irish, all students would learn one other subject through the medium of Irish; that one area of the curriculum would be taught through the medium of a foreign language; that separate Irish syllabi would be provided for native speakers of Irish and those who were learning Irish as a second language; that learning support programmes in Irish would be made available for students who had received part of their education abroad; and that State examinations would be available through a range of languages as presented by the non-national population.

I have asked my officials to review policy on the teaching of Gaeilge and in this regard the proposals from Conradh na Gaeilge will be factored into their considerations.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the method by which her Department implements the compulsory element of Irish as a subject for the leaving certificate, higher level or lower level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36507/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is a fundamental principle of the primary and post-primary school curricula that due allowance should be made for individual student differences in ability, interests and circumstances. In accordance with this principle, the various programmes in Irish at first and second level are designed to cater for the learning needs of students with a wide diversity of learning ability. The study of an approved course in Irish at senior cycle is compulsory for all students, except those who have received an exemption from the study of Irish under the terms of Circular M10/94.

In October each year, all post-primary schools make returns to my Department on all students and the subjects which they are being taught. Students who are not studying Irish and who do not have a valid exemption under the terms of circular M10/94 do not qualify for recognition for the purposes of capitation and teacher allocations. If, in the course of subject inspection and-or whole school evaluation, an inspector became aware of any instances of students who are not studying Irish and who have not got an exemption the school authorities would be requested to ensure that those students follow an approved course.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if students are entitled to obtain a leaving certificate by obtaining five or more subjects from the approved list of subjects, including those who have not sat the Irish exam for the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36508/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the actions that are open to her where a non-exempted student refuses to attend compulsory Irish classes and who does not sit the Irish examination in the leaving certificate but who achieves recognition in five or more approved subjects; if such student can be awarded an approved leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36520/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 454 together.

In accordance with the rules and programme for secondary schools, the approved course for the established leaving certificate must include not less than five approved examination subjects, of which one must be Irish. The exception to this is where a student has been granted an exemption from the study of Irish. There is no requirement to sit any particular subject in the established leaving certificate examination in order to be awarded a certificate. Each candidate will be awarded a certificate showing the grades obtained by him or her in whatever examinations have been taken, regardless of the overall number of subjects.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the report of the language commission; if she intends to implement a radical overhaul of the second level curriculum both in content and structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36509/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Irish Language Commissioner highlighted the fact that despite appreciable time devoted to Irish in the school system, many students emerge from primary and post-primary education without achieving a reasonable command of the language. Particular concerns were raised about students' command of the spoken language. While I absolutely accept that the standard of oral Irish, in particular, of many of our young people is not as it should be, it is important to note that significant efforts have been made by my Department in recent years to improve standards in the teaching and learning of Irish in our schools.

The revised Irish language programme at primary level places a strong emphasis on oral Irish. This programme, implemented in all schools since September 2003 and supported by extensive in-service training by the primary curriculum support programme, should bring significant improvement to the standard of spoken Irish over time. This development at primary level complemented similar curricular changes at second level where syllabus reform is ongoing.

Significant improvements are being made in regard to the provision of materials and resources for the teaching of Irish. An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta has been established to progress this area and to provide support services for schools. Funding has been provided for An Chomhairle to support this task. I know that this is an area that will need further work.

My Department is engaged in a number of evaluation activities relating to the teaching and learning of Irish. Also, at the request of my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is carrying out areview of languages in the post-primary curriculum. This will include Irish. I am confident that the above reports will both inform us of good practice within the system and point to areas requiring improvement.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether it is appropriate that students for higher level leaving certificate Irish should be required in some instances to learn Irish essays by heart for purposes of complying with a points structure; her further views on whether such activity is a test of memory rather than an assessment of capability and presentation of thought on chosen subjects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36510/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The leaving certificate syllabus in Irish at higher level aims to foster a positive attitude towards learning the language among students and to provide students with an experience of studying Irish that is enjoyable, as well as offering intellectual and emotional stimulus. Specific objectives of the course in relation to the skill of writing include that the students will be able to express themselves in language that is accurate and precise, that they will be able to communicate ideas confidently in writing and that they will gradually develop a personal style. In my view, the rote learning of material is not conducive to the achievement of these aims and objectives.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the estimated number of hours of teaching of the subject of Irish to all pupils from the primary system to leaving certificate; the estimated cost on an annual basis devoted to the teaching of Irish within the primary and secondary school systems respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36511/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At primary level, the recommended minimum time to be spent in the teaching of Irish as a second language is 3.5 hours per week, or 2.5 hours per week where a short day is provided for the infant classes. This excludes discretionary curriculum time.

At second level, the syllabuses for the leaving certificate are designed around a recommended instruction time of 180 hours over the two years of the programme and for the junior certificate 240-270 hours over the three years of the programme. It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in regard to cost as my Department does not allocate funding on a subject basis.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the allocations made to all Irish organisations for each of the past ten years under all headings by her Department; if she has received a written annual report from each such organisation; if she has examined these reports; if she is satisfied that these reports are providing beneficial opportunities for the learning of the Irish language and if she will instance such opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36512/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the standard of spoken Irish in the primary school system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36513/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The inspectors of my Department evaluate the standard of spoken Irish in the course of their work in school evaluation. Inspectors offer advice for the improvement of standards where necessary. They submit written reports to my Department which are then issued to the staff and management of schools. During the 2004-05 school year the inspectorate carried out a detailed evaluation of the standard of Irish and either English or mathematics in about 40 primary schools throughout the country. A detailed report on the outcomes of the focused evaluation will be published later in the current school year.

Some criterion referenced tests of Irish have been carried out in primary schools in the past two decades. The work was carried out by Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann in co-operation with Department inspectors and also with assistance from the Educational Research Centre and Trinity College in the most recent instance. The report on the most recent survey of the attainment standards of pupils in sixth class across mainstream, Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools has just come to hand and my officials are studying its contents.

My Department offers significant support to primary teachers for Irish through the primary curriculum support programme. Teachers get advice on the planning and teaching of Irish and there is also a cuiditheoir or advisory service through which staff are assisted in their own schools. It is a policy of my Department that at pre-service level, all student teachers as well as candidates for an scrúdú le haghaidh cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge must attend a three-week approved course in the Gaeltacht. This can play a very important part in developing the teacher's competence in oral Irish when taken in conjunction with the in-house work of the colleges of education. As the Deputy knows, a minimum grade C at higher level leaving certificate Irish is required of all entrants to pre-service teacher training and just over 41% of the marks derive from the oral and aural components.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the assessment method for competency of spoken Irish for entrance to the teacher training colleges and for teachers being trained on-line; if these assessment criteria are the same as those employed ten years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36514/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The minimum entry requirement for all undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes for the primary sector is a grade C3 on a higher level leaving certificate Irish paper. This has been the position for more than ten years. As the Deputy may be aware, just over 40% of the marks for that exam derive from the oral and aural components. In the case of undergraduate programmes, interviews were held in all colleges up to 1991. Students are now accepted onto undergraduate courses in four colleges solely on the basis of leaving certificate performance, and applications are processed through the Central Applications Office. These colleges are Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, St. Patrick's College of Education, Dublin and Froebel College of Education, Dublin. In the case of the fifth college, the Church of Ireland College of Education, applications are processed through the CAO and an interview is held as an element of the selection process. Part of the interview is conducted through the medium of Irish.

Applicants to competitions for postgraduate courses, who have met the minimum entry requirements or approved equivalents, undergo an interview and an oral Irish test. In the case of Irish, courses accepted as equivalent include a pass in a university first arts examination, a grade C at GCE A Level, a grade C in the matriculation examination or the dioplóma sa Ghaeilge from NUI, Maynooth. The selection procedure for these postgraduate courses, which has been laid down by my Department, sets out the grades and points which are to be allocated at both the interview and oral Irish test. Assessment criteria for the oral Irish test have been developed by the colleges which have responsibility for organising and managing the competitions. Applicants who get a fail grade on the oral Irish test are eliminated.

Mature students for the undergraduate programmes have the option of applying through the CAO system or directly to the colleges. In the case of direct application, once candidates have met the minimum entry requirements or approved equivalents, selection is on the basis of a competitive interview and oral Irish test. Applicants who get a fail grade on the oral Irish test are eliminated.

Applicants to the on-line course, having met the minimum entry requirements, are interviewed and half of the interview is conducted through the medium of Irish. Applicants who do not meet the standard set by the college are considered ineligible for the course.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the opportunity on an annual basis for the improvement of the spoken Irish language for primary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36515/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there are many opportunities available to primary teachers to improve their proficiency in their spoken Irish. The cuiditheoireacht service, which is part of the primary curriculum support programme, PCSP, continues to support teachers in schools on the teaching of Irish. The training is conducted through the medium of Irish. The support service has also commenced a sustained support model of provision. It is a developmental approach to support the improvement and enhancement of the curriculum through one-to-one in-class teacher coaching.

Each year, summer courses in Irish are provided by bodies such as Oideas Gael in Donegal and Gael-Linn which are at the appropriate level for primary sector teachers. Other summer courses deal primarily with the methodology of teaching Irish and these are conducted through Irish. Universities and some other third level institutions also run courses in Irish for adults and primary teachers can, of course, also apply to participate in these courses.

A considerable number of primary teachers are involved in the delivery of coláistí samhraidh courses each year. Participation by teachers in these programmes allows them to develop and enrich their own competence in the language. In addition, my Department funded 25 Irish language courses, involving over 600 participants, which were provided as part of the 2005 summer course programme for primary teachers in line with the requirements of the revised primary curriculum. Some 600 primary teachers attended these courses throughout the country. The Deputy may be aware that extra personal vacation, EPV, is granted to such teachers in order to incentivise the learning of Irish in such a manner.

My Department also funds the Education Centre Network, 21 full-time centres and nine part-time centres, to deliver local courses based on locally identified needs and Irish language courses form a part of this local course provision.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the content of the curriculum for the Irish course for the leaving certificate, higher level and lower level; when this curriculum content was last reviewed; when she intends to introduce changes to this content; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36516/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Revised syllabi for both the leaving certificate higher level and ordinary level in Irish were introduced in September 1995 and first examined in June 1997. The syllabi are built on the communicative approach to the learning of Irish and expect an integrated approach to the development of the four language skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing. The syllabi outline a range of topics recommended as a means of practising the language in real communicative situations. The list of topics is flexible so as to allow teachers to choose topics that are of interest to students. In addition, students study literature comprising prose texts and poems. The list of prescribed texts has changed a number of times since 1995, the most recent being September 2004 when a gearrscannán, or short film, was introduced as an option for the first time. Language awareness and cultural awareness are integral components of both the higher and ordinary level syllabi. Full details of the current syllabi and prescribed material are published on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The Deputy will be aware that I am anxious to have more emphasis placed on oral Irish and that some months back I put the reform process in train when I asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to make recommendations to me in this regard as one of their next steps in developing their proposals for senior cycle reform.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to introduce an oral Irish test for the junior certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36518/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There is provision for an optional oral examination in Irish at junior certificate level. Where schools opt to provide such an examination, the State Examinations Commission issues assessment guidelines to them for use by class teachers in assessing candidates. The optional oral Irish examination at junior certificate level is not assessed by the State Examinations Commission but by class teachers. Marks awarded by teachers are sent to the State Examinations Commission for processing without external assessment or monitoring. Candidates who take the optional oral Irish examination are marked out of 400 marks, whereas candidates who do not take it are marked out of 320 marks.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to award higher marks for competency in oral Irish in both lower level and higher level Irish in the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36519/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At present, in the leaving certificate examination at both higher and ordinary levels, 150 marks out of a total of 600 marks are available for the oral component of the examination. The Deputy will be aware that I am anxious to have more emphasis placed on oral Irish and that some months back I put the reform process in train when I asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to make recommendations to me in this regard as one of their next steps in developing their proposals for senior cycle reform.