Language Trends Ireland Report

Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD, launches first Language Trends Ireland report

The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD, yesterday launched Language Trends Ireland, a report commissioned by Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) and British Council Ireland on behalf of the department. The research was conducted by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast and examines modern foreign language provision, uptake and learner attitudes across post-primary schools in Ireland.

The report was launched at Mount Carmel Secondary School, Dublin, and presents evidence-based insights drawn from responses from school leaders and students nationwide. It provides an important overview of current language provision, participation at Junior and Senior Cycle, and emerging challenges and opportunities within the system. 

Key findings 

The Language Trends Ireland report highlights that: 

• Students today are taking a more diverse array of languages for Leaving Certificate.  

• Between 75% and 80% of students report that they enjoy learning languages, particularly opportunities to develop spoken communication skills. 

• French continues to be the most widely taught language, while Spanish is growing in popularity, particularly among learners who perceive it as more accessible with 69% of respondents having travelled to Spain. 

• Levels of international engagement are high, with students identifying the ability to communicate while travelling as the primary benefit of language learning. 

• School leaders identify learners’ perceptions of relevance as the most significant challenge affecting sustained uptake. 

• While most learners recognise the general usefulness of languages, there is a need to raise awareness among students to recognise how languages can be relevant across a wide range of careers beyond traditional or obvious pathways 

• The most successful kinds of language learning enrichment activities include school exchanges and cultural events, including those organised by PPLI such as the annual #ThinkLanguages Festival.  

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said: 

“The release of the Language Trends Ireland report is a welcome and important contribution to our understanding of modern foreign language learning across schools in Ireland. This research provides valuable insights into learner participation, attitudes and provision at post primary level, and it will help to inform continued policy development, including the follow-on strategy to Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education.” 

The Minister further highlighted the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting high-quality language teaching and learning, noting the importance of linguistic diversity, international engagement and research informed decision-making in ensuring that students develop the skills required to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. 

The report was presented by Dr Ian Collen, Queen’s University Belfast, who examined patterns of language provision and uptake, alongside learner attitudes to language learning across post-primary education in Ireland. 

Dr Collen said, “Compared with the UK, Ireland has a clearly defined languages strategy, and our data show many success stories-including significantly higher uptake of Modern Foreign Languages through to age 18. Of all the predominantly anglophone countries I have studied, Ireland has the strongest foundations on which to build in the years ahead.” 

Also in attendance was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen, reflecting the strong bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom and the shared commitment to advancing language learning. The Ambassador noted the value of comparing Language Trends findings from Ireland and the UK by drawing on the British Council’s wider Language Trends research programme to support future educational collaboration and expanding linguistic opportunities for young people. The British Ambassador to Ireland said: “Having had the opportunity to learn and use several languages throughout my career, I have seen how powerful language skills can be – not only in opening professional opportunities, but also in building understanding and connection. That is why the Language Trends Ireland report is so valuable: it offers important insights into how young people in Ireland are engaging with languages today and highlights the strong foundations already in place. By sharing perspectives from Ireland and the UK through the British Council’s Language Trends research, we can continue to learn from one another and support more young people to develop the confidence to succeed in this world.” 

The launch brought together representatives from education and government to consider the report’s findings and to explore further opportunities to strengthen modern foreign language provision across schools in Ireland.  

The full report, including in-depth analysis and methodology, can be found here: Language Trends Ireland Report 2025/2026