Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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407. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills nuashonrú a thabhairt ar shaincheist – (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [57874/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tá forbairtí suntasacha tarlaithe le deich mbliana anuas maidir le soláthar curaclaim Ghaeilge d’fhoghlaimeoirí in iar-bhunscoileanna.

Mar a tharlaíonn le gach obair forbartha curaclaim a dhéanann an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM), is grúpaí ionadaíocha forbartha a dhéanann na sonraíochtaí ábhar a fhorbairt. Bhí an Grúpa Forbartha Ábhar (Meitheal Forbartha) do Ghaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí agus do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta comhdhéanta de raon príomhpháirtithe leasmhara a raibh saineolas agus taithí acu ar fhoghlaim, ar theagasc agus ar mheasúnú na Gaeilge, múinteoirí a bhí ag teagasc Gaeilge san áireamh.

Maidir leis an tSraith Shóisearach, tar éis comhairliúcháin fhairsing, tugadh isteach sonraíochtaí Gaeilge T1 (Teanga 1) agus T2 (Teanga 2) i scoileanna in 2017 mar chuid de Chéim 3 de rolladh amach Chreata na Sraithe Sóisearaí (2015). Ba é seo an chéad uair a rinneadh, mar fhreagra ar aiseolas ó na páirtithe leasmhara, soláthar scoite sa churaclam Gaeilge do dhaltaí a bhí ag foghlaim in iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus in iar-bhunscoileanna a bhí ag teagasc trí mheán an Bhéarla. Tá gach dalta a thosaigh sa tSraith Shóisearach ó Fhómhar 2017 i leith ag foghlaim Gaeilge mar atá leagtha amach sna sonraíochtaí nua seo.

Ag freagairt d’iarratais a fuarthas ó pháirtithe leasmhara tríd an gcomhairliúchán a tharla le déanaí ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta, chinn Comhairle an CNCM athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar luath-fheidhmiú na Gaeilge, T1 agus T2, sa tSraith Shóisearach. Dá réir sin, tuigim go bhfuil tuarascáil ar luath-fheidhmiú na Gaeilge, T1 agus T2, sa tSraith Shóisearach á chríochnú faoi láthair ag an CNCM.

I mí na Nollag 2018, chuir an CNCM tús le hobair chun Sonraíochtaí Gaeilge Ardteistiméireachta a fhorbairt do T1 agus T2. Osclaíodh comhairliúchán ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí i mí Feabhra 2021. Mar fhreagra ar aiseolas agus ar iarratais ó pháirtithe leasmhara, cuireadh síneadh le spriocdháta an chomhairliúcháin seo go dtí deireadh mhí na Samhna 2021. Tá sé tugtha le fios dom gur cuireadh dréacht-tuarascáil ar na comhairliúcháin sin faoi bhráid Chomhairle an CNCM an 16/17 Meitheamh agus tuigim go mbeidh an tuarascáil chríochnaithe á fháil agam i mí na Nollag.

Tá forbairt scileanna ginchumais agus idirghníomhaíochta Gaeilge scoláirí lárnach do shonraíochtaí curaclaim na Gaeilge ag gach leibhéal. Cuimsíonn na sonraíochtaí cur chuige comhtháite i bhforbairt na scileanna teanga go léir. Is fiú a thabhairt faoi deara go gcinntíonn na sonraíochtaí do Ghaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí go mbíonn deis ag gach scoláire a bheith gafa le measúnú a dhéanamh ar a gcumas Gaeilge labhartha mar aon leis na scileanna teanga eile.

Is beart eatramhach é an cinneadh maidir le huainiú Pháipéar 1 Gaeilge agus Béarla a athrú a rinneadh chun freagairt don chomhdhearcadh maidir leis an ualach measúnaithe a scaipeadh agus an strus a bhíonn ar scoláirí a laghdú dá réir, go dtí go bhforbrófar sonraíochtaí athbhreithnithe i ngach ábhar, Gaeilge agus Béarla san áireamh. Agus an cinneadh seo á dhéanamh agam, theastaigh uaim a chinntiú go mbeadh na buntáistí a bhaineann le hathfhorbairt na Sraithe Sinsearaí le feiceáil agus le mothú ag gach scoláire a luaithe agus is féidir. Mura ndéanfaimis an t-athrú sin, bheadh sé bliana de scoláirí Ardteistiméireachta, nó timpeall 360,000 scoláire, nach mbeadh buntáistí na leasuithe le feiceáil ná le mothú acu. Tá tús curtha leis an bpleanáil is gá chun Páipéar 1 Gaeilge agus Béarla a reáchtáil ag deireadh na cúigiú bliana ó shamhradh 2024. Nuair a bheidh an phleanáil sin curtha i gcrích cuirfear an t-eolas go léir ar fáil do scoláirí agus do scoileanna.

Maidir le pointí an CAO, is eol dom go bhfuil iarrtha ag páirtithe leasmhara Gaeilge go gcuirfí pointí bónais CAO ar fáil chun glacadh dréacht-sonraíocht T1 a spreagadh. Ní mór ag an tráth seo fanacht ar thorthaí an phróisis chomhairliúcháin sula ndéanfar aon chinneadh faoina leithéid. Cuirtear in iúl don Teachta go mbaineann an cheist maidir le pointí bónais CAO leis an Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta.

English Version

There have been significant developments over the past decade in Irish language curriculum provision for learners in post-primary schools.

As with all curriculum development work undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the development of subject specifications is carried out by representative development groups. The Subject Development Group (Meitheal Forbartha) for Junior Cycle Irish and for Leaving Certificate Irish both comprised a range of key stakeholders with expertise and experience in the learning, teaching and assessment of Irish, including practising teachers of Irish.

In relation to Junior Cycle, following extensive consultation, L1 (Language 1) and L2 (Language 2) Irish specifications were introduced in schools in 2017 as part of Phase 3 of the roll out of the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015). This was the first time discrete Irish language curricular provision was made, in response to stakeholder feedback, for student learning Irish in Irish-medium and in English-medium post-primary schools. All students who started Junior Cycle from Autumn 2017 onwards are learning Irish as laid out in these new specifications.

Responding to requests received from stakeholders through the recent consultation on draft L1 and L2 specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish, the NCCA Council decided to undertake a review of the early enactment of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle. Accordingly, I understand that a report on the early enactment of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle is currently being finalised by the NCCA.

The NCCA commenced work to develop Leaving Certificate Irish Specifications for L1 and L2 in December 2018. A consultation on draft specifications was opened in February 2021. In response to stakeholder feedback and requests, the closing date for this consultation was extended to the end of November 2021. I am advised that a draft report on those consultations was presented to NCCA Council on 16/17 June and I expect to receive the finalised report in December.

The development of students’ skills in Irish language spoken production and interaction is central to the curricular specifications for Irish at all levels. The specifications espouse an integrated approach to the development of all language skills. It is worth noting that the specifications for Irish at Junior Cycle ensures all students have opportunity to engage in the assessment of their competence in spoken Irish, as well as the other language skills.

The decision to alter the timing of Paper 1 in Irish and English is an interim measure designed to respond to this consensus for spreading the assessment load and thereby reduce the stress experienced by students, pending the development of revised specifications in all subjects, including Irish and English. In making this decision, I also wanted to ensure that all students would begin to see and feel the benefits of Senior Cycle redevelopment as soon as possible. If we did not make this change, six years of Leaving Certificate students, or approximately 360,000 students, would not see or feel the benefits of the reforms. The planning necessary to hold Paper 1 in Irish and English at the end of the fifth year from summer 2024 has commenced. Once this planning has been completed full information will be provided to students and schools.

On the matter of CAO points, I am aware that Irish-language stakeholders have called for CAO bonus points to be made available to encourage uptake of the draft L1 specification. It is necessary at this time to await the outcomes of the consultation process before reaching any decision on such matters. The Deputy is advised that CAO bonus points are a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.