Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether primary level children should be given the opportunity to learn foreign languages; the steps he has taken to improve the learning and teaching of foreign languages both at primary and post primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43082/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Department's language policy, as detailed in the Government's National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (2011), is that pupils will learn two languages, English and Irish in primary schools.

At senior cycle, the languages available include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic, as well as English and Irish. The Post-primary languages Initiative supports the diversification of languages in schools. At senior cycle, revised syllabuses for French, Spanish, German and Italian are expected to be finalised during the 2012/2013 school year, following a process of consultation with relevant parties.