Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 20 September 2011, the progress that has been made by him on redesigning the criteria for Irish language exemptions in primary and secondary schools to include children with diagnoses of aspergers syndrome; if parents will be consulted or invited to participate on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40829/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy was informed previously in September, 2011 my Department has given some consideration to consolidating and updating the departmental circulars which deal with exemptions from the study of Irish in recognised primary (12/96) and post-primary schools (M10/94). My Department has established an expert working group to review the current Irish exemptions circulars. The working group has drafted a single consolidated circular to cover both primary and post-primary schools which will be considered by my Department's Standing Committee on the Curriculum. Among the issues which the Standing Committee will consider are revisions to the criteria for exemptions for students with special educational needs. Under the current departmental circulars, for recognised primary and post-primary schools, students with Asperger's Syndrome could be exempted from learning Irish if they meet the criteria for exemption as specified. However, the learning profiles of students with Asperger's Syndrome would not generally meet the criteria for general or specific learning disability as set out in the circulars, as a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome relates more to emotional and social communication needs. Many students with Asperger's Syndrome are high functioning and achieve well at school.