Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if three reports (details supplied) have been completed and published on the Irish language in schools; the actions which will result from these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19902/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Field work in relation to a focused evaluation of the teaching of Irish in 45 primary schools and an evaluation of the teaching and learning of Irish in the junior cycle in 75 post-primary schools has been completed by my Inspectorate and individual reports have been issued to the schools concerned. Analysis of the data collected is under way and it is expected that reports based on the findings of these evaluations will be available by the end of 2006.

Preparations for the publication of the Harris report on "Irish in Primary Schools: Long-Term National Trends in Achievement" are at an advanced stage. The design stage is complete. The report will be sent to the printer as soon as the Irish text has been finalised. This is expected in the very near future.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) report on the first phase of its review of languages in post-primary education was published in April 2005 and it is available on the website of the Council at www.ncca.ie. In relation to Irish, this report recommended that a separate syllabus for native speakers of Irish should be developed. As part of the second phase of the review, the NCCA is preparing a discussion paper which will outline the advantages and disadvantages of developing such a syllabus for both junior and senior cycle. This paper will be the subject of a consultation process in the autumn. When the Harris Report, the Inspectorate report and the NCCA advice become available, I will give careful consideration to their conclusions and recommendations.