Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered making the learning of foreign languages compulsory at primary level in order to increase the language skills of Irish pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29976/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026 and accompanying Implementation Plan sets out a roadmap to put Ireland in the top ten countries in Europe for the teaching and learning of foreign languages through a number of measures targeted at improving proficiency, diversity and immersion.

Under Action 1.E.2 of the Implementation Plan, the Department asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to consider including foreign languages in senior classes as part of the review of the primary curriculum.

The NCCA has now published a draft Primary Curriculum Framework for public consultation until the end of December 2020:The draft framework includes the proposal to include Modern Foreign Languages for 3^rdto 6^thclass pupils and is informed by the background paper:

www.ncca.ie/en/resources/primary-curriculumreview-and-redevelopment-background-paperintegrating-modern-foreign-languages-in-are developed-primary-curriculum.

The Department will consider the recommendations of this review when the NCCA has completed its work.