Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has had their exemption from Irish withdrawn; and the way they are expected to cope with this work having being exempt for three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4460/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Exemption from the study of Irish may, however, be granted to primary pupils under certain circumstances as outlined in Department Circular 12/96.

A condition for the granting of an exemption to a pupil with a specific or general learning difficulty is that evidence of such a disability must be furnished by a qualified psychologist. There is however no provision for the automatic granting of exemptions to pupils on foot of a recommendation in a psychologist's report.

Under the terms of the Circular delegated authority to grant exemptions from Irish, within the conditions laid down, has been vested in the individual school authority.

With regard to the particular case referred to by the Deputy, there is no record in my Department of an exemption from the study of Irish having been granted to the pupil in question by the school authorities concerned.