Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she expects her review of the senior cycle Irish curriculum to be complete; and when she expects that this will be published. [7497/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies, I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to prioritise a review of Irish as part of its work on developing proposals for senior cycle reform and to make recommendations to me as soon as possible.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of reply to Parliamentary Question No. 521 of 7 February 2006 and taking into account the worthwhile and valuable aspiration of having more males enter primary teaching, and taking into account her co-ordinated promotion campaign, the way in which she proposes to address the fundamental issue of the failure of a sufficient number of young males to achieve a minimum C mark in higher level Irish; the extra tuition she proposes for leaving certificate classes in order to achieve same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7498/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have already stated that the senior cycle Irish curriculum will be reviewed as a matter of priority, with a view to ensuring that students achieve greater competence in both oral and written Irish and making learning the language more enjoyable for all students, male and female, at both ordinary and higher level. The review will examine the syllabus content and assessment methods and make recommendations in respect of these. The NCCA is also examining the Irish syllabuses for the junior certificate as part of its review of junior cycle.

It is my belief that both curriculum and assessment are powerful levers for improving students' interest levels in individual subjects and in raising their levels of achievement. It is not my intention to propose extra tuition time for leaving certificate Irish.