Recently, The Journal found that almost 20,000 students received an Irish exemption for the academic year spanning 2023 – 2024. This is just over 5% of Ireland’s population in education. Comparatively, just over 10,000 students were deemed eligible for an Irish exemption in 2017.

Exemption from Irish can be given under multiple criteria; if a student has moved from abroad past a certain age, if a student has literary needs or if a student has additional needs in the classroom. Figures show that 9,853 students were exempt based on needs in the classroom with this figure being mirrored in the 9,974 who had come from abroad.

22% of students who sat their Leaving Cert this year did not sit Irish.

Why Are We Seeing More Students Exempt From Irish?

There are multiple factors as to why we have seen the doubling of Irish exemptions. One of these is the influx of school-aged immigration, mostly from the war in Ukraine. As of March 2024, 18,291 Ukranian children have been enrolled in Irish schools. This is split between over 11,000 in primary and 7,000 in secondary. All children who join the Irish education system post-primary are entitled to an Irish exemption.

Schools have also said that it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny a student an Irish exemption due to an increase in testing for additional needs in classrooms.

What Can We Do About It?

Learning the Irish language is a fantastic way to promote inclusivity and integration as well as preserving Irish culture for future generations. It is no secret that the method of teaching our native language is not optimised for the actual absorption of Gaeilge.

In February of last year, an Oireachtas committee on The Irish Language appealed for the system that allows for Irish exemptions be reformed in favour of an educational format that aligns more with academic research on effective learning.

Research from The University of Galway has also indicated that learning Irish can play a key role in migrant children transition to Ireland easily.

The study reads, “the Irish language can become a factor of integration. Migrants saw Irish as an important part of the local culture and heritage, and are interested in the language, especially when their children are learning it in school. But few have the time or opportunity to learn it.”

Elsewhere on District: Irish Language Horror Is Here To Stay