More than 60,000 post-primary school students exempt from learning Irish, figures show

Almost one in four Leaving Cert students did not sit an Irish exam last year as exemptions for the subject hit a record high.

Almost one in four Leaving Cert students did not sit an Irish exam last year as exemptions for the subject hit a record high, Conradh na Gaeilge has warned.

The Irish language orgnisation was among those who appeared at the Oireachtas education committee on Thursday to discuss Irish education policy, and Irish-medium education.

The education system is “failing” more than 60,000 post-primary school students who currently have an exemption from studying Irish, it said in a written submission to the committee.

“Instead of providing an inclusive system that caters for the ability and personal circumstances of these pupils, the system is denying, avoiding and failing them,” it said.

“According to the Leaving Cert results, 24% of pupils, or nearly one in four, did not sit any Irish exam in 2025."

“This is the fourth consecutive year in which the percentage of pupils not taking any Irish exam in the Leaving Cert was over 20%.” 

It added 20% of pupils who did not sit the Irish exam last year had sat their Junior Cycle exams. 

The trends are heading in one direction and it is not right or fair to avoid or deny this emergency. It must be recognised and addressed urgently now.

It, along with other orgnisations, has called for a new policy for Irish to be developed and aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Such a policy, aligned with the CEFR, could cater for pupils with additional needs, Conradh na Gaeilge said. 

"For example, a pupil with a writing difficulty could take the oral exam only for the Leaving Cert and receive appropriate CAO points based on that." 

Any student who enters the education system late would also be able to start at the first point of the framework, instead of "being left out of the cultural integration of this country, as is currently the case", it added.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Parents opened 130 gaelscoilenna between 1970 and 2010, "usually in the teeth of Department of Education opposition", said Aiden Kinsella of campaign group for Irish-medium education IMEASC. 

"If those parents had not been determined, we wouldn’t have number of gaelscoileanna we have today." 

In 2010, the department brought in procedures that effectively made it impossible for parents to open a gaelscoil, he added. This was found to be illegal in 2017.  It has opened 15 gaelscoilenna since 2010, with no current plans for more, and all at primary level. 

"Parents cannot open a gaelcholaiste," he added. "It takes significant resources. The State has to do this."