The requirement in relation to Irish should be seen in the broader context of the requirements in relation to the curriculum to be followed in post-primary schools and to subjects to be studied as part of the junior certificate and leaving certificate courses. These are set out in rules and programme for secondary schools which aim to ensure adequate breadth and balance in the education that pupils receive.
The curriculum of a secondary school must include instruction in a syllabus approved by the Minister in a number of subjects, one of which is Irish. Irish is one of a number of subjects that must be included in the approved course for recognised junior cycle pupils. In the case of the established leaving certificate, the approved course for recognised senior cycle pupils must include not less than five subjects from a specified list, one of these must be Irish. The study of Irish is one of a number of requirements that apply in the case of the leaving certificate vocational programme and the leaving certificate applied.