Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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570. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will begin an immediate consultation process to formulate the policy for Irish in the education system from preschool to third-level and immediately stop the introduction of new specifications for the leaving certificate and all other consultations relating to the Irish language until this policy is formulated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50864/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working on an ongoing basis on the initial planning required for the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. This policy is part of the overall framework of the 20-year Strategy for the Irish language and will complement and build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. Planning underway will include the development of a consultation framework to ensure the meaningful engagement of stakeholders throughout the process to inform the development of the policy.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) consultation on the new draft specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish is still underway. The NCCA is using a range of consultation techniques including an online survey, focus groups, information meetings and bilateral meetings, and written submissions to gather and record the experiences and perspectives of participants on all aspects of the draft specifications, including the types of learning, teaching and assessment experiences set out for students. The consultation will remain open until 30 November 2021. Once the consultation closes, a detailed analysis of all feedback will be conducted and an interim consultation report will be presented to NCCA Council in early 2022.

In addition to the consultation on the new draft Leaving Certificate specifications, the NCCA are undertaking an early enactment review of the Junior Cycle Irish L1 and L2 specifications. This review will provide teachers and students with opportunities to share their insights, experiences, and views on implementing the Junior Cycle Irish specifications to-date.  It is expected that the results of this review will be considered by the NCCA Council in early 2022.

Following the completion of the consultation process and analysis of feedback, my Department will carefully consider the feedback received during the consultation process.