Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the teaching of Mandarin in our schools as part of the curriculum. [12516/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are a range of foreign languages available on the curriculum in schools -- French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic. Mandarin Chinese is not currently on the curriculum. It is not possible in the current budgetary situation to expand the range of languages available in the post primary curriculum. However, the availability of Transition Year and the option of school developed short courses proposed as part of junior cycle reform will, in the future, give opportunities to schools to provide additional languages, including Mandarin Chinese, if they wish to do so.