Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider exempting children with dyspraxia from the requirement to learn Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51246/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Exemptions from the study of Irish are granted in accordance with the provisions of Departmental Circular 12/96 for primary schools and M10/94 for post-primary schools. The criteria provides that exemptions may be granted by school authorities for certain categories of students with special educational needs as set out in these Circulars. Currently, a diagnosis of dyspraxia is not among the categories of special educational need for which an exemption may be granted.

My Department is currently conducting a review of arrangements for the granting of exemptions from the study of Irish. To date, the review has included a research phase and is being led by the Department’s Inspectorate and the Department’s Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit. This research phase is ongoing and will inform further policy actions in this area.