Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason there are anomalies in the criteria for an Irish exemption between children progressing to secondary school from private schools and from mainstream schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9525/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Department Circular 12/96 applies to primary schools funded by my Department and sets out the conditions under which exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to primary pupils. In relation to one criteria, an exemption can be granted for pupils with a specific or general learning difficulty on foot of a report furnished by a qualified psychologist.

The same criteria apply to granting of exemptions at post-primary level, under Departmental Circular M10/94. Under the terms of this Circular, delegated authority to grant exemptions from Irish, within the conditions laid down, is vested in the school management. Exemptions granted within the stated criteria to a student in a State funded primary school will be carried forward to their post-primary school.

As my Department has no function in relation to the funding of private primary schools any exemptions granted by private schools, while not automatically carried forward to post-primary schools, are reviewed by post-primary schools on a case by case basis. I understand that the school in question in relation to this case, is reviewing the student's details prior to their entry to the post-primary school next September.