Education

Foley expands exemption list for studying Irish language

Students with a ‘high level of multiple and persistent needs’ may be allowed to skip Irish as a compulsory subject

Norma Foley, the Minister for Education: Irish is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools alongside English and maths, However, students who meet certain criteria can get an exemption. Picture: PA

Norma Foley, the Minister for Education, has decided to allow students with a “high level of multiple and persistent needs” to avoid having to study Irish in school.

The Irish language is accorded special status in Ireland under the Constitution, and it is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools alongside English and maths.

However, any child who scores in the lowest 10 per cent of school pupils in reading, comprehension or spelling can ...