Just 2.2% of primary school pupils exempt from studying Irish last year

The number of Irish exemptions granted to primary school students seems to be 'finally moving in the right direction. File picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire

The number of Irish exemptions granted to primary school students seems to be “finally moving in the right direction” at a time when numbers at post-primary level hit a record high.

Last year, 3,483 exemptions were issued to primary school students, meaning that just 2.2% of overall students were exempt from the study of Irish.