The number of secondary students given exemptions from studying Irish has reached a new record high of 60,946, according to the latest figures from the Department of Education and Youth.

The figures show the number of exemptions from studying Irish has almost doubled in the past seven years, leading to fears among some that Irish is losing its compulsory status in schools.

The latest figures from the Department of Education and Youth show that in the 2024/25 academic year, 60,946 children, or 14.3 per cent of the post-primary school population, had an exemption from studying Irish even though it is a compulsory school subject.

This is the equivalent of one in seven secondary school children currently having special permission to excuse them from studying Irish

Currently, a school principal can decide to grant an exemption if a student meets the necessary criteria laid down by the Department of Education and Youth.

The conditions usually apply to children who have special educational needs or are new arrivals coming to Ireland from abroad.

There is no doubt there are more coming from abroad and no doubt many students have genuine learning difficulties but there is also no doubt many are faking it to be exempt from Irish to collage course exemption because they just struggle with the language.

Is it time we stopped making Irish an compulsory language as it’s not necessary for life?