Education Minister John O'Dowd has said the number of Irish language-based schools will increase, following the publication of an advisory group report.

The Minister set up the advisory group in August 2013. The report contains 33 proposed recommendations under three key areas:

• The required elements of a strategic approach to planning for Irish-medium education by the authorities.

• A pathway for development at post-primary level.

• A series of recommendations to help obviate the constraining factors which hinder the continued development of Irish-medium education at post-primary level.

In a statement to the Assembly, Minister O'Dowd said: "Irish-medium education continues to expand successfully at pre-school and primary levels, with almost 3,600 children currently attending Irish-medium primary schools and units.

"Yet there is a gap in the strategic development of Irish-medium post-primary provision. In the last school census there were 830 post-primary pupils attending one stand-alone school in Belfast and three Irish-medium units in English-medium schools where the curriculum is delivered all or partially through Irish."

He continued: "While I cannot comment on specific areas and potential development proposals, collaborative working in the Irish-medium sector, focused on the provision of high quality education for all pupils, must form the cornerstone of progress and development.

"The report makes 12 recommendations to remove barriers to progress. These relate to teacher supply, continuing professional development, north-south co-operation, resources, the use of ICT and current and future funding approaches."

(IT/CD)