Figures for the last three years show that more than one in two students who have been granted exemption from learning Irish for the Leaving Certificate have taken other European language exams, such as French, German, Spanish.
In the 2008-2009 school year, 2,119 were granted an exemption due to learning disabilities. Of those students, 1,210 studied another European language.
In the 2007-2008 school year, 1,772 students got an exemption due to learning disabilities. Of those, 1,210 studied another European language.
Provisional figures for 2009-2010 show that 2,297 students will not sit the Irish exam due to an exemption due to learning disabilities, but 1,326 of those will sit an exam in another European language.
Provisional figures show that 39 schools in the State have ten or more pupils with exemptions due to learning disabilities.
The figures were obtained from the Department of Education under the Freedom of Information Act.
To obtain an exemption, students must be assessed by Department of Education psychologists or private psychologists paid for by parents to prove they have a learning disability.
The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals claims parents and students may be using this as a tool to avoid Irish in the Leaving Certificate, which is seen by many as a difficult subject.
