Your questions answered by Brian Mooney

My son is in fourth class in primary school, he is 10 years old and needs to work hard and get extra help to keep up. I am thinking of applying for an exemption from Irish in secondary school as I feel he will have enough to cope with at that stage.

Is Irish still compulsory at second level? Do third-level colleges require Irish? Are there extra points for Irish or is there a spoken exam format?

The curriculum of a secondary school must include instruction in a syllabus approved by the Minister for Education in a number of specified subjects including Irish. This applies to both the junior and senior cycles. The approved course for recognised senior pupils must include at least five subjects one of which must be Irish.

Exemption from the study of Irish is available in a limited set of circumstances. Pupils in the following circumstances may be allowed to substitute any other subject from the list of approved subjects for Irish:

(a) Pupils whose primary education up to 11 years of age was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland.

(b) Pupils who were previously enrolled as recognised pupils in a primary or second-level school who are being re-enrolled after a period spent abroad, provided that at least three years have elapsed since the previous enrolment and the pupil is at least 11 years of age on re-enrolment.

(c) Pupils (i) who function intellectually at average or above average level but have a specific learning disability of such a degree of severity that they fail to achieve expected levels of attainment in basic language skills in the mother tongue or (ii) who have been assessed as having a general learning disability due to serious intellectual impairment and are also failing to attain adequate levels in basic language skills in the mother tongue or (iii) who have been assessed as having a general learning disability due to serious sensory impairment, and are also failing to attain adequate levels in basic language skills in the mother tongue.

A qualified psychologist, supported in the case of (iii) by a report from an appropriate medical specialist, should provide evidence of such a disability. In addition, a full report on the pupil should be provided by the school.

(d) Pupils from abroad who have no understanding of English when enrolled would be required to study one language only - Irish or English.

Exemption granted to a student is operative throughout his/her stay at second level.

The minimum entry requirements for the constituent universities of the National University of Ireland and for the University of Limerick are six subjects (including English, Irish and a third language) two of which must be at Grade C at higher level. Trinity College Dublin also requires six subjects, with Grade C on three higher-level papers with a pass in English, maths and another language. In the case of DCU, six subjects are required, with grade C on two higher- level papers and a pass in maths and English or Irish.

In the case of the colleges of education, minimum entry requirements are three grade C3s on higher-level papers (including Irish) and three grade D3s (including maths and English). grade C3 is required if English is taken at ordinary level.

The HETAC basic entry requirements are generally Grade C in two subjects at higher level and grade D in four other subjects (including maths and Irish or English) for degree courses and five grade Ds (including maths and Irish or English) for certificate and diploma courses.

Finally, bonus points are not awarded for Irish. There may be exceptions to this for individual courses. At Junior Certificate, the Irish examination consists of a final written examination, including a listening comprehension test (aural) and an optional oral examination, which last year was taken by approximately 300 candidates. At Leaving Cert the Irish examination consists of an oral interview and final written examinations including a listening comprehension test (aural).

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie