I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to the House. He will be taking all four matters. I appreciate him doing that.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach. I welcome him back to his old stomping ground and thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I wish to raise a very important issue with him. A striking feature of our towns, villages, sporting grounds and other facilities all over the country in the past few years has been the growth in the provision of automated external defibrillators, AEDs, by local communities. Communities understand the value and importance of the availability of defibrillators and indeed of learning first aid. I commend all those volunteers who give up their time freely to provide this service. They truly are lifesavers.

I recently attended a presentation by the Irish Heart Foundation where such issues were underlined. The foundation is advocating first aid and CPR questions be added to the driver theory test. This measure is being introduced in the UK early next year with the aim of increasing cardiac arrest survival rates by ensuring many people know how to respond in an emergency situation. First aid and CPR questions are being added to the UK driver theory test with a focus on basic lifesaving skills like using a defibrillator and performing chest compressions as motorists are the first responders to cardiac arrests. The aim is to boost survival rates. Road traffic accidents can cause cardiac arrests due to trauma and shock and they can also be caused by drivers experiencing cardiac arrest. Drivers may encounter people who have collapsed along the roadside, or on streets, or out walking or jogging or at bus stops, service stations or carparks. It makes sense that generating greater knowledge of CPR and its use and a greater confidence in knowing what to do in an emergency situation could save a life.

Cardiac arrest survival has increased since recordings began in 2012, during which time awareness and the number of people receiving CPR training have grown significantly, which is very welcome. In 2024 emergency services attended 2,885 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Ireland where resuscitation was attempted, with 230 lives being saved as a result. That is absolutely marvellous. The time it takes to provide defibrillation is the most critical factor for survival following a cardiac arrest and the importance of quick actions by bystanders before ambulance crews arrive cannot be underestimated. There is an 80% chance of survival if a defibrillator is activated within two minutes. The survival rate reduces by approximately 10% for every minute that passes before CPR and defibrillation. When bystanders have the confidence to know what to do in such emergencies lives can really be saved. As the Minister of State will be aware learners prepare for their driving test by studying official RSA material on hazards, signs, vehicle safety and other matters. However, with first aid and CPR training learner drivers can become potential lifesavers. This initiative makes perfect sense and I hope the Minister of State and the Department will take this on board because it could make the difference between somebody’s life being saved and not.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter, which is a very important one. I join him in commending the volunteers in our communities. He is right the growth of defibrillator provision has been of extraordinary value to our communities. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

As the Senator knows, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has statutory responsibility for the national driver testing service under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006. The driver theory test is a requirement under EU law. Annex Il of the driver licensing directive sets out in detail the requirements for the driver theory test. These requirements have been transposed into Irish law in full accordance with the EU directive. As the Senator will be aware, for those seeking a category B licence, the current theory test constitutes a series of 40 questions designed to check a candidate's knowledge of topics, including the rules of the road, risk perception, ecodriving, hazard awareness and safe driving behaviour. There is currently no requirement under the EU directive or in Irish law for a candidate for a B licence during a diver theory test to demonstrate they have a knowledge of CPR. However, it should be noted that truck and bus driver are required to have basic first aid knowledge.

The Senator makes good points and there is merit in what he is suggesting and proposing. I am speaking in a personal capacity here.

Under the new driving licence directive at EU level, driving test candidates, including those seeking a B licence, will be required, among other things, to have knowledge of the measures which the driver can take to assist road accident victims where necessary. This will include a basic knowledge of first aid, in particular CPR. This is set out under Annex Il, 2e(ii) of the new directive. This directive was published in November 2025 and it is planned for it to be transposed into Irish law, by way of new regulations, over the next two years. This transposition will ensure that the requirement in relation to assisting road accident victims where necessary will be transposed into Irish national law in the most appropriate way. Moreover, once these requirements for the practical driving test are transposed, there will be a need to ensure consistency with the theory test and this may present an opportune moment to consider advocating what the Senator is suggesting and adding CPR to that test.

In addition to these regulatory and legislative matters, the Senator may wish to note the work that is currently under way under the Government's road safety strategy. In July of this year, phase 2 of the action plan was published. This sets out 12 primary actions which have the potential to deliver transformative changes in relation to road safety. A key action under this action plan is action 7A which states that we will enhance the learning to drive programme based on evidence from international best practice, in tandem with improvements in the driving test. This action is being led by the RSA and I understand work is advancing. The RSA is working in partnership with international third level institutions to identify best international practice with a view to making recommendations in relation to improving how driver testing is conducted in Ireland. I understand as part of this work that the issue of CPR and how it could be implemented is being considered.

There are significant merits in the Senator's proposal that all drivers should have a basic knowledge of CPR. We must recognise that there may be times when dealing with a victim of a road traffic accident where it may not be appropriate to perform CPR. That comes back to the point the Senator made about the knowledge we all need to have. For example, where an airbag has been deployed or where a seatbelt has caused damage to a victim's ribs, it may be dangerous to perform CPR. In that case, it is part of the whole movement around further knowledge that we all need to have. In that regard there would also be a requirement on the driver to be able to assess the injuries to a victim and to know when it is safe to perform CPR. It goes back to the fundamental point about the added value that we saw with defibrillators. There is merit in what the Senator is proposing because we have all come across road accidents. We have all been in that situation where people rush to help. People want to do what is best, but it is about that training and skill acquisition. There is significant merit in what the Senator proposes.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I commend the Irish Heart Foundation on the work it does. This is a proposal that has come from it. As the Minister of State outlined in his contribution, it would seem to make perfect sense. I welcome the fact that we are looking at this within the next year or so with a view to bringing it into the driver theory test in this country. That is a sensible and welcome development. As the Minister of State outlined, it is about having the knowledge in your pocket so that if, God forbid, you come across an event, you would be able to act, size up the situation and make the correct call. Having that knowledge in your back pocket is something that is worthwhile. I would welcome this development coming into effect as soon as we possibly can. What we are talking about here is the potential ability to be able to save someone's life. That is greater than any of us can comprehend.

I again thank Senator Gallagher for raising the matter. As I explained in my reply to him, there is a movement by the Government and the RSA in terms of the transposition of the directive published in November. As he knows, it will take two years to be transposed. That gives us an opportunity to consult widely. This morning has been a useful exercise. I hope the Irish Heart Foundation can be involved in that. As you look at the road safety strategy, it is about committing to renewing and enhancing the learning to drive curriculum but also that piece of knowledge.

I think we all share Senator Gallagher's desire to ensure that the drivers on our road are as well trained as possible and that all safety matters are considered. As the Senator said, God forbid that any of us may be in that position. How do we handle that? It is about giving us that capacity. I make the point again that it is about safety on our roads and us as first responders acting in a safe manner. We have seen and we are seeing work being done. We will take the views that the Senator brought back to the RSA. It is about ensuring we make fully informed choices to assist all of us as road users in the best way forward. I thank the Senator for raising the matter this morning.

I thank the Minister of State for attending the Seanad this morning. Today I am calling for greater investment in rural transport, in particular our Local Link and demand-responsive transport services. These services are a lifeline for people across rural Ireland - for the older person needing to reach their GP visits, the student getting to college and the worker who depends on a reliable bus to get to their job. They connect people to opportunity, community and essential services.

Local Link is one of the greatest success stories of rural Ireland. It is a service built around local needs, communities' priorities and real-world challenges. Time and again, Local Link has shown that with the right support, rural transport can be flexible, responsive, reliable and transformative. The dedication of Local Link drivers, their co-ordinators and community partners is extraordinary and has to be acknowledged. Their work deserves recognition and expanded investment. However, the reality in too many areas is that there still is not enough coverage. Some communities see one bus a day. Some see none at all. Families are forced to run a second car, not out of choice but necessity. That is not fair or sustainable for a lot of families.

I want to highlight one example in the village of Abbeydorney in north Kerry. It is a remote village north of Listowel and south of Tralee. Abbeydorney previously applied for a demand-responsive transport service and was refused funding. They are now applying again. This time, their needs must be heard. The intention is simple - to provide older residents with a weekly commute to their active retirement group at the community centre in Abbeydorney. At present, Local Link offers a run every second week. That is twice a month that some people in rural north Kerry can meet in their active retirement group in Abbeydorney. It is just twice a month. That is not fair to these people. While appreciated, it is not enough. These residents deserve the chance to meet weekly to socialise, participate and stay active in their community. Social connection is not a luxury; it is a necessity for well-being, dignity and independence.

Abbeydorney is far from alone. Across Kerry and throughout rural Ireland, there are communities that need expanded routes, greater frequency and more robust demand-responsive transport options. Rural isolation is a persistent challenge. I know that. I live in rural Ireland. Improved transport is one of the most effective tools we have to address it. Investment in Local Link and in demand-responsive transport is investment in our people. It cuts isolation, reduces emissions and gives rural communities the same opportunities as our towns and cities.

I see the Luas green line is suspended this morning. Imagine if the Local Link was suspended; would it get the same furore in my part of the country? I am calling for increased core funding, expanded routes and frequency, a modernised booking system and stronger integration of the Local Link with the wider public transport network. Every €1 spent on rural transport delivers multiple returns in equality, climate action and community well-being. Let us back Local Link, support communities like Abbeydorney, expand demand-responsive transport and ensure that no one is left behind simply because of where they live.

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising the important matter of the Local Link, particularly around Abbeydorney. He is right. It is about connectivity and opportunity. It is a success story. As the Senator knows, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but we do not have involvement in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for that rests with the National Transport Authority.

The NTA works with the public transport operators, which deliver the services and which have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. In saying that, I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing public transport services in rural areas and piloting new transport initiatives for people of all ages and abilities living in them. With a third of Irish people living outside the cities and main towns, investment in our Local Link rural transport services remains a priority for me, my Department and the NTA.

As the Deputy knows quite well, the rural transport programme, now operating under the Local Link brand, has been providing scheduled and demand-responsive public transport services across the country for many years. Funding for the rural transport programme has increased significantly, from €16 million three years ago to €31 million for 2026.

One of the key plans for enhancing the existing transport network across Ireland falls under the NTA's Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, which aims to develop an integrated, accessible and sustainable network of public transport offerings across Ireland. Under this hugely successful programme, over 180 new or enhanced services have been rolled out since 2022. These services have connected 240 new towns and villages to the public transport network, with 61 new connections established to healthcare facilities and 41 new connections to higher education facilities. These increased services have led to exponential growth in passenger numbers, which have seen a five-fold increase since 2022, with a record weekly high of over 125,000 passenger journeys recorded in November 2025. We all agree this is a significant number.

Demand-responsive transport, DRT, is important in meeting both transport disadvantage and climate challenges by catering for users with mobility limitations as well as those in dispersed, low-density housing in rural areas. It addresses the point the Senator rightly made, which was that social connection is not a luxury. DRT services, as a concept, have existed in our country for some time. TFI Local Link currently operates approximately 1,000 DRT services. These are primarily focused on providing public transport services in rural or isolated areas, such as the one referred to in Kerry. Users can contact their Local Link office to book a service along a specific route with a specific schedule, typically a day in advance. I take the Senator's point on the twice-per-month arrangement. We will have a chat about that again.

A key objective of Connecting Ireland is to implement non-fixed-route public transport services. As demand for public transport increases, it is important to explore alternative options that complement our existing public transport offerings.

With funding under the Climate Action Fund, the NTA is developing smart DRT services in three locations during 2025 and 2026. The Smart DRT pilot involves the use of technology to provide demand-responsive services that can be offered both on demand and in a pre-planned way. Smart DRT is an enabler of the more efficient use of vehicles. The Anseo app was launched in Achill in July 2025 and is now operational in Killarney and the north east of Limerick city. Unlike the traditional fixed-route services model, the smart DRT model allows passengers to request pick-ups and drop-offs anywhere within the operating zone, offering greater flexibility and accessibility.

Earlier this month, the NTA also announced the phased introduction of contactless payments on TFI Local Link services, beginning with a pilot in Tipperary, a major milestone in improving accessibility and convenience.

To go back to the Senator's fundamental point, it is a matter of local need and community response. I will certainly relay to the Minister the Senator's concerns regarding the lack of a service in Abbeydorney. I look forward to engaging further with the NTA and the Senator on the matter.

I thank the Minister of State. That is wonderful news. As he said, Local Link has been a success story. In Ballyferriter, west Kerry, it has brought communities back together. The service the people are receiving there is unbelievable and they are grateful for it. However, I am highlighting areas that are not receiving an adequate service. I am delighted that the Minister of State will take on board my points, especially those on the Abbeydorney area. Is there a public awareness campaign for people living on isolated roads that are not being serviced? Has the NTA a way of identifying areas that have applied for funding but that unfortunately have not been successful? Local Link has been a success story but everyone is not included. I want the affected areas to be invested in and people to have an adequate service. I thank the Minister of State.

I thank the Senator again for raising the matter and being an advocate of connectivity.

In recent years in County Kerry, for which he has been a strong advocate and champion, we have seen considerable investment in the rural transport programme, with funding having increased by 71% between 2023 and 2024 to over €4.7 million. Passenger numbers on the regular rural service routes in Kerry have seen a 41% increase year on year. I take the Senator's point regarding deficits that exist. I am fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations.

I was very much struck by the point he made to the effect that social connection is not a luxury. It is not. I compliment former Minister Eamon Ryan who believed transport connectivity was very important to people in rural Ireland. The Senator referred this morning to Abbeydorney and other parts of Kerry. I could give him a list of where we have seen new or enhanced services across Kerry, but he is correct that there are still gaps that we must work to fill. For me, it is about bringing life back to the villages, towns and communities he spoke about this morning, particularly Abbeydorney.

Go raibh maith ag an Aire Stáit. They are great services. I totally agree.

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House again. I thank him for attending this morning. I regret, however, that I must raise this issue yet again. Section 6 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 remains uncommenced, despite assurances from the Government that it would be operational by the end of quarter 2 of this year. We are now at the close of quarter 4 and there is still nothing. This is my fifth time bringing this matter before the House. An entire ten years has passed since this legislation was agreed. The technical error was corrected in 2024 and the Government assured us last February that training would be completed and that we would see commencement by mid-2025. The promise has not been honoured.

The delays are not a mere administrative inconvenience; they have a real human cost. For a decade, unmarried fathers have been denied the right to have their names recorded on their children's birth certificates. This affects legal rights, identity and the ability of children to trace their lineage. In 2014, 37% of children were born outside marriage. By 2022, that figure rose to over 43%. This is not a marginal issue; it affects thousands of families and thousands of fathers.

I am asking for clarity. Why has the commitment to commence section 6 by quarter 2 not been met? What specific obstacles remain? When will the provision finally come into force? What steps will the Minister of State take to ensure this House is not debating the same question in another six months? Families have waited long enough and fathers have waited long enough. This level of delay would be farcical if it were not for the human damage it has caused in the past decade. It is time for action and no further excuses.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, as she knows. This is a very important issue. I acknowledge that she has raised it in the House already by way of Commencement matter and that the Minister responded to her at the time.

The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 principally amends and extends the Civil Registration Act 2004. As was previously outlined to the Senator, the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill was signed into law on 4 December 2014. This Act principally amends and extends the Civil Registration Act 2004 and contains 36 sections. These sections include important amendments to marriage legislation, which dealt with issues around marriages-of-convenience cases, and they have proven effective in reducing the number of such cases in the State. The Act also provided for an expansion to the list of persons who could register a death in the State. These sections relating to marriages and deaths have been commenced since 2015.

The sections relating to changes to birth registration were contained in sections 5 to 7, inclusive, and 9. These sections amended how births were re-registered and addressed the issue of the provision of details of a father, as highlighted by the Senator, as well as addressing issues facing registration staff at local office level, such as allowing for birth registrations in circumstances where a parent could not attend to sign the register of births due to reasons of hardship.

Section 6 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014, as referred to by the Senator, introduces new provisions that require a mother not married to the father of her child to provide his particulars to a registrar when she is registering the birth. Section 6 amends section 22 of the Civil Registration Act 2004.

Prior to the amendment of section 22, where the mother was not married to the father of the child, there was no requirement on her to provide the details of the father of her child.

The amended section 22 sets out a process whereby the mother must inform the registrar of the name and contact details of the man she wishes to name as the father of her child. A letter informing the man that he has been named by the mother will be sent to him from the registration office. Registration of the father will then be dependent on the man acknowledging paternity of the child within 28 days of receipt of the letter.

Commencement of these provisions was subject to preparatory work and training of the registrars in the HSE by the General Register Office. An initial training program was delivered in early 2020. However, prior to the commencement of the provisions in 2020, a technical error was discovered in the relevant amending legislation. This error was corrected in the recently enacted Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Act 2024. This Act was signed into law by the President in July of last year.

The Senator will appreciate that given the passage of time since the initial training relating to this provision was delivered, officials in the Department of Social Protection, in consultation with the HSE, determined that further training would be required to ensure operational readiness prior to the commencement of the legislation. A further nationwide training programme for registration staff has been completed by the General Register Office. Training material, relevant documentation and updated forms have been provided to local registration staff, and technical issues around incorporating the IT system-related requirements of the changes into the existing civil registration computer system have been finalised.

I am pleased to inform the Senator that following the completion of the training and technical upgrades, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, signed the order to commence section 6 as and from yesterday, Wednesday, 10 December 2025. Officials from the Department of Social Protection are available and happy to engage further with the Senator on the matter.

I thank the Minister of State very much. I thank the Minister, Deputy Calleary, as well. I have been raising this issue every six months for about three years. This morning, many fathers out there will be absolutely delighted that this legislation was signed yesterday. I thank the Minister of State from all of the fathers in Ireland who have remained nameless on birth certificates over the past number of years. That has been rectified this morning. I thank him from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all of the fathers of Ireland.

I thank Senator Keogan for raising the matter. We all welcome the commencement of section 6, which will provide an opportunity for all father's names to be recorded in the register of births. As Senator Keogan knows, the number of birth registrations that do not contain a father's name is very low. It stands at less than 3%. However, it is the Government's view that, where possible, all children should have the right to know the details of both of their parents.

I remind everybody in the House that the new section will allow for circumstances whereby the mother can provide a statutory declaration to the registrar if she is unable to provide a name of the father. This provides a welcome safeguard for the mother and a mechanism whereby the registrar or superintendent registrar will have oversight of the implementation of this provision. The commencement of section 6 will also complete the commencement of all sections of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 in relation to the registration and re-registration of births. I thank Senator Keogan again for raising this matter.

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.