Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether basic sign language should be included in the curriculum at all primary schools; and if so, the attempts which have been made to realise this situation. [5910/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the primary curriculum was revised in 1999 and is being implemented on a phased basis. I have no intention of introducing further curriculum change at primary level until the new curriculum is well bedded down. However, I am aware that some second level schools offer sign language courses to their students, particularly as part of the leaving certificate applied programme, and I consider this a very worthwhile initiative.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if modern Irish republican history will be introduced into the school curriculum here. [5911/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The modern Irish history sections of the current history syllabi provide for the study of the origins and development of republicanism. For example, in their study of the revolutions of the late 18th century, junior certificate students learn about the United Irishmen, Wolfe Tone and 1798. Later, they follow Irish history through the 20th century. Similarly, the revised leaving certificate history syllabus which was introduced in 2004 and will be examined for the first time in 2006 includes a range of topics that relate to republicanism. For example, one topic which can be studied is the pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition between 1912 and 1949. The full content of the syllabus is available at www.education.ie.

The leaving certificate syllabus also provides students with opportunities to study aspects of republicanism through a research study which must be completed using appropriate sources on a topic chosen by the student and through a documentary question which requires students to study a topic from primary and secondary sources.