Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new primary school reform commences; the age at which students will start to learn a foreign language; if the Finnish model of beginning a foreign language at age seven will be adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16620/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Reform of the Primary School Curriculum has already commenced. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed a new Integrated Primary Language Curriculum, for English and Irish. Schools have started implementation, on a phased basis, in junior infants to second classes in September 2016, supported by my Department's Professional Development Service for Teachers. Implementation in senior classes (third to sixth classes) will follow in September 2019. 

The new Primary Language Curriculum is innovative in aiming to ensure that language skills are transferred effectively, from one language to the other, whether that is English or Irish. Gaining proficiency in both languages will provide pupils with transversal skills that will assist them in learning foreign languages during their post-primary education experience and beyond. Practically all children in our primary schools are studying two languages from an early age.

My Department's Action Plan for Education commits to exploring the potential for the greater use of CLIL (content and language integrated learning) to increase the use of language skills and increase confidence in language learning in a range of language Support Material for teachers has been developed by the NCCA in this area.

Work on the redevelopment of the new Mathematics Curriculum for primary schools has commenced, with implementation scheduled for September 2018 for junior infants to second class.

A review of the overall structure and time allocation in the primary school curriculum is also underway. The target date for completion is Q4, 2018. In this context the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is also developing proposals for provision for Education about Religion and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics at primary level.