Sinn Féin’s education spokesperson has expressed disappointment that no joint initiatives are currently planned by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) to advance the development of the Irish language sector on an all-Ireland basis.
Deputy Seán Crowe, who raised the question in the Dáil with Education Minister Ruairí Quinn last week, said: “The NCCA and its counterpart in the North have held periodic joint meetings in the past that are designed to promote a number of key strategic goals.
“Minister Quinn confirmed that presently, no joint initiatives are under way despite the fact that in the past both councils engaged in joint work on the use of mobile phones to support the teaching of Irish, and on guidelines for schools in supporting exceptionally able students.”
The TD for Dublin South West noted more positively that An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), which is funded by the Department of Education and Skills, will co-ordinate the provision of teaching resources for schools that teach in the Irish language on both sides of the border.
“I welcome the fact that COGG has recently agreed to invite the CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) to appoint a representative to its board to further develop this partnership,” he said.
“The COGG, CCEA and An tÁisaonad in St Mary’s University College, Belfast have a database of all resources available for Irish-medium education on the island of Ireland. An early literacy programme is currently being developed by these three organisations and the first stage will be available this September.”
Deputy Crowe added that Sinn Féin “will continue to promote with others the development and growth of the Irish language on an all-Ireland basis”, and said he would be meeting NI Education Minister John O’Dowd to discuss progressing the matter further.
