Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
152. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been denied an exemption from a subject on the curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8354/20]
View answerAn exemption from the study of Irish is granted by school management if they are satisfied that the student meets the criteria as set out in section 2.2 of Circular 0053/2019 i.e.
A). students whose education up to 12 years of age (or up to and including the final year of their primary education) was received outside the State and where they did not have opportunity to engage in the study of Irish.
Or
B). students who were previously enrolled as recognised students in a primary or post-primary school who are being re-enrolled after a period spent abroad, provided that at least three consecutive years have elapsed since the previous enrolment in the State and are at least 12 years of age on re-enrolment
Or
C). students who:
i.) present with significant learning difficulties that are persistent despite having had access to a differentiated approach to language and literacy learning over time (Irish and, or, English). Documentary evidence to this effect, held by the school, should include Student Support Plans detailing
- regular reviews of learning needs as part of an ongoing cycle of assessment
- target-setting
- evidence-informed intervention and review, including test scores (word reading, reading comprehension, spelling, other scores of language/literacy) at key points of review.
and
ii) at the time of the application for exemption present with a Standardised Score on a discrete test in either Word Reading, Reading Comprehension or Spelling at/below the 10th percentile.
In line with other Department policies in the area of special educational needs, the circulars on the granting of exemptions from the study of Irish have moved away from a diagnostic categorical model to a needs-based model. It is up to the school to decide if they have the evidence (ongoing support, response to intervention and current level of need as identified in school testing) when considering if the criteria under which an exemption may be granted are satisfied.
