Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 11 March 2015, the progress in developing a new integrated primary languages curriculum; if this initiative will lead to further extending this programme to incorporate some continental languages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41542/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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A new Integrated Primary Languages Curriculum, incorporating Irish and English, has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The first phase will be introduced from Junior Infants to 2nd classes from September 2016. Work will continue for the curriculum for 3rd to 6th classes which will follow on from the curriculum developed for the junior primary classes. A circular recently issued to primary schools informs them about the roll out of the new curriculum and the supports which will be available for implementation.

The curriculum aims to ensure that primary pupils acquire transferable language skills which will assist them in learning Irish and English during their primary education and thereafter add additional languages to their language repertoire at second level. It aims to encourage children of different languages and cultures to be proud of and to share their heritage. These children will be given opportunities to explore and inform their class on the culture and customs of the country or heritage from which their language comes. It also aims to promote a positive disposition towards communication and language and to foster within children a lifelong interest in and a love of languages learning.

In addition, my Department is currently developing a new Foreign Languages in Education Strategy focussing on post-primary, further and higher education. The new strategy will set out clear actions to further improve the quality and delivery of our provision for foreign languages.