The Department of education recently published two sister documents outlining the Government's vision for the future of Irish-language education in our schools. The action plan for Irish in English-medium schools, plean gnímh don Ghaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla, and the policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht, Polasaí don Oideachas Lán Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. If I said these documents were met with disappointment in both education and Irish-language circles, that would imply they had been expecting something better and more concrete. However, I would not say that they were met with resignation because there is a determination within these communities to seize upon a momentum and the groundswell of popular support that we are seeing, go háirithe i measc daoine óga, for our native language. They are looking to us for real ambition and for genuine and sustained support for the Irish language in our education system. I am not at all sure if they will find that in these documents. To be straight and honest, I found them both to be toothless. There are plenty of laudable ideas, many of which I would support, but no timelines, n concrete metrics or deliverables and no great accountability. Tá an plean agus polasaí seo mantach agus gan amlínte, spriocanna intomhaiste ná mórán freagrachtaí.

I will focus on three key areas. First is around teacher competency in the Irish language. The action plan for Irish in English-medium schools notes:

The language proficiency and pedagogical skill of the teacher, together with the willingness to use the language, are key factors in effective language teaching and the promotion of language use among learners.

It goes on to acknowledge that:

Teachers and school leaders, particularly at primary level, frequently highlighted the confidence and proficiency of teachers and student teachers in Irish as a key area of concern.

The INTO, in its statement on the publication of these documents, emphasised that:

... the vast majority of primary teachers are committed to the Irish language. ... The issue is not the passion or willingness but a sustained lack of Departmental support to enable teachers to realise their ambition to improve their own Irish language skills. Teachers need a support system from Government that matches their commitment.

Second, and connected, is the issue of aligning the Irish-language curriculum to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR. This approach would bring much-needed flexibility in terms of tailoring learning objectives to students with special needs and students who arrive late to our education system and to help address the issue of exemptions within the system. I would argue that this is important not just to the leaving certificate but also to embed it as a basis for lifelong learning, for setting out the pathway for those many people who, like me, would like to return to the language in later life. The commitment contained in the programme for Government is repeated here but the language is vague and non-committal. Dar le Conradh na Gaeilge, ba chóir go mbunófar coiste saineolaíoch láithreach bonn leis an gcóras nua seo a fhorbairt. Faraor, níl na spriocanna seo san áireamh sa phlean gnímh nua. The expertise is there. At this point, we just need to get on with it.

What is sadly lacking here is a vision for real ambition. For any roadmap to be useful we have to begin with the destination in mind. Breis agus 100 bliain ó bunaíodh an Stát, níl ach 6% de dhaltaí ag fáil a gcuid oideachais trí Ghaeilge. Níl aon sprioc intomhaiste ná uaillmhianach leagtha amach chun líon na ndaltaí i scoileanna Gaeilge a mhéadú go suntasach. If we want to see what real ambition looks like, we need to only look over the water to Wales. Mar a dúirt uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, is mór an difear idir é seo agus cás na Breataine Bige. Tá plean ag Rialtas na Breataine Bige céatadán na ndaltaí i scoileanna Breatnaise a mhéadú ó 23% go 40% faoi 2050. Tá uaillmhian ag an Rialtas ansin an aidhm sin a bhaint amach.

There are many lessons for all of us to take from the recent presidential election, but one aspect that struck me strongly was the ról lárnach agus dearfach a bhí ag an nGaeilge sa toghchán sin. The Minister of State can afford to be brave and ambitious. If he does drive on, he will find that there are many people ready to come with him.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Noonan agus gabhaim buíochas leis as an díospóireacht seo a chur os comhair an Tí. Táim ag caint ar phlean gnímh don Ghaeilge, go mór mór sna scoileanna ina bhfuil an Béarla mar chéad teanga. Cloisim tuairimí an tSeanadóra. Táim ag éisteacht leis. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for education.

In recognising what the Senator said, it is important to acknowledge that we continue to make progress in terms of the advancement of the action plan for Irish in English-medium schools. The action plan was launched in November, together with the new policy on Irish-medium education. I am fully sure that the launch of these two policies was a major achievement. This is the first time that such policies have been put in place to support ár dteanga dhúchais, Gaeilge, sna scoileanna taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. This is an important policy that shows the ambition of the Government and, in particular, Ministers Calleary and Naughton, regarding the new action plan for English-medium schools. It will support the excellent work being done in our bunscoileanna and in our ardscoileanna in implementing existing curriculum specifications to provide a better learning experiences of Irish and to increase its use among children and young people. We have seen an increase in Government funding in the budget. We have also seen an increase in the comhrá agus díospóireacht. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir, tá an Uachtarán nua líofa agus is ambasadóir iontach í ar son an teanga.

The action plan focuses on actions that are most likely to be effective and make a difference within a two-year timeframe, namely the period 2025 to 2027. It was informed by an extensive consultation with national schools and the various stakeholders. Discussions, díospóireachtaí, with children and young people, na daoine óga, were a key part of the consultation, and their views are strongly reflected in the action plan, an plean gnímh. It is important the action plan focuses on the key elements that make a difference to language learning in terms of mindset, teaching Irish as a language, opportunities to use Irish and the use of approaches that ensure that all children and daoine óga experience success in their learning.

The action plan also places a strong focus on better co-ordination and use of the supports and resources for teaching and learning Irish trough collaboration across relevant Departments, State agencies and Irish language organisations. Work has commenced on the implementation of the action plan. Implementation supports will include professional learning opportunities for teachers, the development of resources and greater opportunities for children and young people to use Irish.

A key focus will be on offering tacaíocht and supporting teachers to share effective practice and have better access to end use of resources. The important point is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR. It provides an internationally recognised framework for language leaming. The programme for Government contains a commitment to work towards the alignment of the school curricula at the different levels with the CEFR. In line with this commitment, the new Action Plan for Irish includes an action on working towards a learning Irish-language curriculum, associated teaching supports and assessment arrangements within that CEFR to enhance spoken Irish in schools. The inclusion of this action gives recognition to the potential of CEFR to support the effective teaching and learning of Irish.

The alignment of language curriculums with the CEFR is complex and, therefore, a phased approach is being adopted to align the curriculum for Irish with the CEFR. As part of this phased approach, the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, has commenced a process towards the alignment of leaving certificate Irish to the CEFR. This work is taking place as part of the ongoing senior cycle redevelopment programme. The first meeting of the NCCA subject development group for leaving certificate Irish was held in September. It is also intended that the NCCA will advance work on achieving closer alignment of the Irish curriculum with the CEFR across the primary, junior cycle and senior cycle sector. I hear what the Senator is saying and I will certainly bring his remarks back to the Minister and the Department. It is about getting it right at the beginning. Tús maith leath na hoibre. The Senator makes a fair point.

Glaoim ar an Seanadóir Noonan freagra a thabhairt. Tá nóiméad amháin aige.

Féach ar an mBreatain Bheag. The ambition there is to go ó 23% go 40% faoi 2050. Sa Stát seo, áfach, tá sé thart ar 6%. The ambition needs to be there, as I said. Young people in particular feel inspired. We might call it the “Kneecap effect” but, whatever it is, we need to seize that momentum and work with it. I am fortunate that our children are being educated through Irish in Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí i gCill Chainnigh but, as parents, we would all like to have that opportunity as well. It is about having a whole-of-system, whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to this. We would welcome that level of ambition being met through these two policy documents but also right across the Government to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn and celebrate this wonderful language of ours.

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Seanadóir. Tá an plean gnímh tosaithe amach. Tá sé sách maith agus nua. The publication of the action plan is the first. It is a new direction and a significant milestone in the teaching, learning and use of Irish, ár dteanga dhúchais, in both Irish- and English-medium schools. I share the Senator’s ambition of all of us having that grá but also the ability to have that conversation. We are fortunate that both the policy and action plan reflect the Government. Tá an Rialtas ag tabhairt tacaíochta don Ghaeilge, go mór mór sa bhuiséad agus sa phlean gnímh nua sa sectoral plan a bhí foilsithe inné ag an Roinn ina n-oibrím mar Aire Stáit. The Government is supporting the Irish language with the Minister. The Senator is right that it is about ensuring that all students can engage and we, as adults, can have that meaningful engagement with our language and culture. It is an important direction of travel for the Government. I will go back to the point I made earlier: it is about the alignment of the language within that CEFR umbrella. I will certainly bring the Senator’s points back. I have listened to what he said. We will go back to the NCCA, look at the progress and take the Senator’s points on board.

I thank the Minister of State for being here.

Ní raibh aon rogha agam.