The Department of Education and Skills allows students in Ireland to apply to be excused from studying Irish in post-primary school.

Source: Citizen Information

The circumstances in which a student will be given this exemption are very limited.  Where a student has lived abroad or does not speak English, they may be exempted.  Students with certain disabilities may also be exempted.

Where entry to a third-level course requires a student to have a certain mark in Irish at the Leaving Certificate examination, students who have been exempted from the study of Irish may also be exempted from this requirement.  This is a matter for each individual college.  Generally, if a student has had an exemption during post-primary education, he/she is likely to be exempted from Irish as a college entry requirement.  The student applying for a third-level course through the Central Applications Office (www.cao.ie) should send a copy of the exemption certificate with his/her CAO Application Form.

Rules

These are the categories of student who may apply to be exempted from the study of Irish:

• Students whose primary education up to 12 years of age was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland
• Students who were enrolled in a primary or post-primary school and who are now enrolling again after having been abroad. The student must have been abroad for at least three years.  The student must be at least 12 years of age when re-enrolling.
• Students who function at an average or above-average level of ability, but who have a specific learning difficulty that is so severe that they cannot reach expected levels of attainment in their mother tongue.
• Students who have a general learning disability due to a serious intellectual impairment and who are not acquiring basic language skills in their mother tongue.
• Students who have a general learning disability on account of a serious sensory impairment, and who are not learning basic language skills in their mother tongue
• Students from abroad who have no understanding of English, when enrolled, would only be required to study one language, either English or Irish.

Automatic exemption for special schools and special classes in mainstream schools

Under the revised criteria for granting exemptions from the study of Irish, students in special schools and in special classes in mainstream schools are automatically exempted and do not have to make a formal application for a certificate of exemption. School authorities have autonomy and discretion to make decisions about the Irish language learning needs of these students. However, schools are expected and encouraged to give these students opportunities to take part in Irish language and cultural activities.

You can read more about the exemption from Irish in the Department of Education’s FAQ for parents.

How to apply, and where to apply for an exemption from the study of Irish.

The application for exemption is made by the parent or guardian to the school principal. The application should state the reasons why the exemption is being sought. Children will only be considered for exemptions who meet the criteria set out above. The parent or guardian must attach documentary evidence of the student’s age, and previous schooling if it is relevant to the reason for the exemption being sought. The school authorities must confirm the outcome of the application, in writing, within 21 days of receiving the application. Where an exemption is granted, a certificate of exemption, signed by the school principal, is issued to the parent or guardian.

From the 2019/2020 school year, psychological assessments and cognitive ability (IQ) scores are no longer needed when applying for exemption from the study of Irish on the grounds of a disability.

Appealing a decision.

If you think that you have been unjustly refused an exemption for your child, you can appeal the school’s decision to the Irish Exemptions Appeal Committee (IEAC). You must appeal within 30 days from the date you are notified in writing of the school’s decision.

The Irish exemption appeal form is available from the Department of Education.

www.citizensinformation.ie – Exemption from Irish

Updated: January 2022

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.