Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assessment or analysis her Department has carried out in regard to the new junior certificate Irish programme; if she is satisfied with the new format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34906/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) develops the curriculum, at the Minster for Education's request, through their representative structures.

When developing subject specifications, the NCCA convenes specialist subject development groups. Such a group was established to draft specifications for Junior Cycle Irish. NCCA processes around seeking suitable nominations from stakeholder organisations are clear and robust.  All nominating bodies are informed of the nature and scope of the development work in writing and through follow-up conversations, where required.

In terms of the subject development group for Junior Cycle Irish, significant emphasis was placed on specialist expertise and knowledge of both L1 and L2 settings. The NCCA also co-opted two additional development group members with knowledge and expertise to further strengthen the group. The opportunity to join the development group through this public co-option process was advertised in an advertising campaign and feature piece on Tuairisc.ie. Over 25 applications were received and two additional experts, one with significant L1 expertise and one with significant L2 expertise were shortlisted and co-opted to the development group. The NCCA has also made provision for the use of task group input, when and where the need arose throughout development process.

Following extensive stakeholder consultation, new L1 and L2 specifications for Junior Cycle Irish were introduced in September 2017. Due to the disruption to learning and the cancellation of the summer 2020 and 2021 Junior Cycle examinations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible for students to engage with the final assessment component, which is set by the State Examinations Commission, until this year. The cohort of students who have just concluded their Junior Cycle examinations are therefore the first to have engaged with the full range of learning and assessment experiences in line with the specifications for Junior Cycle Irish. 

As part of the ongoing cycle of curriculum redevelopment, the NCCA reviews the enactment of subject specifications by conducting interim reviews once each subject specification has been experienced across the three-year span of the Junior Cycle. The purpose of such reviews is to capture feedback from teachers, students and stakeholders on their experiences of the new specifications. In February 2021, the NCCA opened a public consultation on draft L1 and L2 specifications for Leaving Certificate Established Irish. In response to subsequent stakeholder requests, the NCCA extended the timeline for this consultation and also undertook to conduct and early enactment review of the specifications for Junior Cycle Irish. Accordingly, the NCCA commissioned Dublin City University to conduct this review,  which I am advised is expected to be completed later this year. The draft report, will in due course, be presented to NCCA Council for consideration. This review will include focus groups with teachers and students.