Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an estimated cost of the re-establishment of the modern languages in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9248/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative (MLPSI) was introduced in September 1998. It involved the introduction of Italian, Spanish, German and French for 5th and 6th classes. The MLPSI was a pilot scheme across 550 schools with an annual budget of approximately €2.5 million.

The decision to end the MLPSI was taken in the context of a very challenging budgetary environment where difficult decisions had to be taken. A 2008 Report by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment recommended against a further expansion of the MLPSI, citing issues of curriculum overload and difficulties relating to the replicability of the model across the system.

The priority at primary level is to provide high-quality language learning in our two languages, Irish and English. A new Primary Language Curriculum, incorporating Irish and English, was introduced in classes from Junior Infants to 2nd class from September 2016. This curriculum aims to ensure that students acquire transferable language skills which will assist them in learning Irish and English and additional languages at second level. Work is currently underway in developing the Primary Language Curriculum for third to sixth class.

My Department is currently finalising a strategy on Foreign Languages in Education and this will be published shortly. The Action Plan for Education refers to the importance of the roll-out of that strategy, together with the implementation of revised curricula at primary level, in supporting increased levels of participation and competence in language learning.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the need for greater uptake of modern languages at secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9249/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to further developing our provision for languages in post-primary education.

In 2015 the Framework for Junior Cycle was published and new subject specifications are being introduced on a phased basis. A new specification for Modern Languages will be introduced from September 2017. This will involve French, German, Spanish and Italian. In addition, Junior Cycle students may study short courses in other languages such as Polish.

In Senior Cycle there are a number of languages available, including French, German, Spanish and Italian. There are also Russian, Japanese and Arabic available in the Leaving Certificate examination. For students whose mother tongue is an EU language other than those listed above, they can present for examination in a non-curricular EU language.

Under the Action Plan for Education my Department is developing a new Foreign Languages in Education Strategy focussing on post-primary, further and higher education. The strategy will be published shortly and will set out clear actions to further improve the quality and delivery of our provision for foreign languages. It would be hoped with the emphasis that will be placed on foreign languages that more students will study these languages and that the diversity of languages studied will be greater.