More than a third of post-primary students exempt from Irish are at Deis schools

It comes as the number of Irish exemptions granted at post-primary level reached a record high in 2024. File photo

More than a third of post-primary students exempt from studying Irish attend disadvantaged schools.

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton confirmed that 20,713 exemptions from Irish held at post-primary level are held by students attending Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, or Deis, post-primary schools.

There are currently 232 Deis post-primary schools in the State. It comes as the number of Irish exemptions granted at post-primary level reached a record high in 2024.

In 2017, some 33,476 students held Irish exemptions at post-primary level. At the end of the last school year, this figure reached 60,946.

With overall enrolment figures of 425,411, this means more than one in 10 students at post-primary level are currently exempt from studying Irish.

Exemptions from Irish may be granted by school management in certain circumstances. These include students who have moved from abroad or students who have additional needs. 

The figures relating to Deis schools were provided in response to a parliamentary question to Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh.

“The fact that such a high proportion of exemptions are held by students in Deis schools points to a fundamental problem with how we approach the instruction of Irish,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh said.

"We are giving our most vulnerable students right across the State the message that our first national language does not belong to them."

It is disproportionately students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, students with additional needs and immigrant students who are exempt, she added.

“This is absolutely shameful, and it is massively disappointing that successive ministers fail to recognise the problem fully and make a concerted effort to allow all students the benefits associated with 'foghlaim na Gaeilge'.

“There is no reason why this should not have been addressed in the recent policy on Irish language in the education system. We need immediate and radical policy action now to remedy this national scandal.”

The number of exemptions granted to post-primary school students has almost doubled in recent years. 

Meanwhile, just 3,483 exemptions were issued to primary school students last year, meaning that just 2.2% of overall students were exempt from the study of Irish. The vast majority (94%) were granted to students who have special educational needs.

Just 665 exemptions have been granted since 2022 to primary school students who have joined the education system from abroad. This is despite more than 10,000 Ukrainian children enrolling in the primary school system since the onset of war in their country that year.

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In response to Ms Ní Raghallaigh, Ms Naughton said the Department of Education is committed to the Irish language as a core element of the school curriculum. 

"Irish is a vital part of our national identity and educational heritage, and its promotion remains a key priority," the education minister said.

The department is strengthening supports for Irish language education, she added. This includes two new policies on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, and an action plan for Irish in English-medium schools. 

"Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to achieve their full potential is a key priority for the minister for education and youth."