Irish:About 10 per cent of Leaving Cert students did not sit an exam in Irish this year. In all, close to 5,000 students were exempt from the exam.
This reflects the increasing number of foreign nationals in school. It also underlines how parents are more aware of the rights of those with dyslexia and other education needs.
Exemptions from Irish are awarded by schools themselves based on a report from an educational psychologist.
Concerns have been raised that middle-class children have ready access to private assessments while others have to go on a waiting list for a State psychologist.
The total number taking Irish this year was 44,018 compared to much higher figures for English (48,455) and maths (49,043).
About 25,000 students, or some 7.5 per cent of all those at second level, are exempted from Irish in the Junior and Leaving Cert exams, according to the Department of Education.
The projection is based on a sample survey of 75 schools during the last school year.
However, the Leaving Cert trend this year would suggest a figure closer to 10 per cent.
The figures come amid concern in the department about the rising number of students who appear to be opting out of Irish.
The number of exemptions granted in Irish has increased from 16,700 in 2002 to over 20,600 in 2004 , according to official figures.
Although some of this is due to greater numbers of foreign nationals in Irish schools and increased recognition for special-needs pupils, the department's inspectorate has expressed concern about the trend.
Concerns have been raised that some students are gaining the exemption easily, opting out of Irish and concentrating on other subjects.
In the past year, the department has circulated new guidelines to schools. These are designed to ensure that any exemption is fully merited.
The official department figures are based on exemptions granted and do not take into account thousands of other applications which may have been rejected.
Last year's survey involved 75 of the 400-plus second-level schools in the State.
Based on a total enrolment of 320,000 at second level, it suggests a national figure of about 25,000 exempted from Irish, according to the department.
Since 1994, the number of second-level students seeking an exemption in Irish has increased from just over 2 per cent to the current department estimate of over 7.5 per cent.
The conditions for an exemption from taking Irish as a Junior and Leaving Cert subject include evidence that a student has been living abroad until the age of 11, foreign nationality and learning difficulties.
The number of exemptions granted to pupils at age 11 has been constant for some time. However, the figures for foreign nationals and those with learning needs have been increasing.
