Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to revise the circular governing pupil exemptions from participating in Irish in schools; if there was consideration in recent years to reduce the age of exemption from 11 years to ten years of age; if this proposal will be implemented in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23706/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are two circulars issued by my Department which provide for exemptions from the study of Irish as a subject for limited specific circumstances. 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 students.

The same criteria apply to granting of exemptions at post-primary level, under Departmental Circular M10/94. Exemptions granted within the stated criteria to a student in a State funded primary school will be carried forward to their post-primary school.

In recent years, my Department has given some consideration to consolidating and updating these circulars. All aspects of the current arrangements are under consideration including the element raised by the Deputy and the intention is to consider the matter on a comprehensive basis rather than isolate any one aspect of the existing arrangements. Therefore revised circulars are unlikely to issue until consideration is complete including consideration of applicability to Gaeltacht schools that has arisen in the context of a case due to be heard in the High Court early next month.