Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to review the relative weighting given to differing aspects of the Irish curriculum at junior and leaving certificate for both the higher and ordinary level paper; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37615/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of activities under way which will inform any review of the weighting given to the various assessment components in Irish in the junior certificate and the leaving certificate examinations. The inspectorate of the Department has carried out an evaluation of the teaching and learning of Irish in the junior cycle in 10% of schools and a report on the findings will be published in 2006. In addition, the Department has invited the Council of Europe to carry out an analysis of language education in Ireland. Irish is one of the specific areas for consideration in this process and a report is expected in 2006. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is also carrying out a review of languages in the post-primary curriculum and this includes a focus on Irish.

As the Deputy will be aware, I am anxious to have more emphasis placed on oral Irish. I have already asked the NCCA to make recommendations to me in this regard as one of its next steps in developing its proposals for senior cycle reform.