Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, níl sé sin ceart ó thaobh na dtíortha eile. There are exemptions for languages in other countries, such as the UK, Poland and Italy. Specifically with regard to students who have an exemption, we are moving away from a diagnostic-led situation. We have invited schools to work to support students over a prolonged period of time, most notably two years. Where a student is struggling, particularly with difficulties with the language, there would be considerable interventions and it is only after that two-year intervention that an adjudication will be made. That is notwithstanding all the other supports we have in our schools from the point of view of teachers or students and the promotion and encouragement of students to study Irish. More than 82% of our students are taking Irish for the leaving certificate and almost 50% at higher level.

Regarding the percentage of students availing of an exemption, approximately 1.9% have an exemption at primary level. That is down from 3.3% in 2017. At post-primary level it has remained steady from 2017 to now. It is currently in and around 10.5% was around 9% in 2017. That is around 10% of our students at post-primary level and 1.9% at primary.