Over 60,000 Irish secondary students got exemptions from studying Irish in 2024–2025, sparking debate over the language’s future.

A record 60,946 secondary school students in Ireland received exemptions from studying Irish in the 2024–2025 school year, representing 14.3% of post-primary students, up from 55,660 the previous year. Despite a cultural revival of the language among youth through music, summer colleges, and online content, concerns grow over the increasing number of exemptions, with education leaders criticizing the current system. The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals urges ending principals’ authority to grant waivers, citing parental pressure, misuse of medical notes, and emotional strain. The Department of Education maintains Irish remains compulsory, attributing the rise to more students with special needs and international arrivals. A TG4 documentary, *As Láthair*, airing September 24, 2025, explores the tension between policy and practice.