Know Your Rights has been compiled by Kerry Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public…

Question: My son is exempted from studying Irish. Can he still go on to study at third level?

Answer: Students must have the academic entry requirements (also called matriculation requirements) for the third level course they want to take. You can get detailed information on these requirements directly from the universities, technological universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education.

If a certain mark in the Irish Leaving Certificate exam is a matriculation requirement, students who had an exemption from the study of Irish may also be exempted from this requirement.

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Exemptions from Irish matriculation requirements may be granted, for example, to a student who was born outside Ireland, was educated wholly or partly outside Ireland or who has a specific learning disability. This is a matter for each individual college.

All students applying for a third-level course through the Central Applications Office (CAO) should send a copy of their exemption certificate with their CAO application form.

The college may also ask the student to complete a separate exemption application form and to submit supporting documentation. You should check with the individual college for details on how to apply for an exemption.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

• Contact us in Tralee on Tel: 0761 07 7860 Killarney 0761 07 7820, Listowel 0761 07 7840 Kenmare 0761 07 7810, & Caherciveen 0761 07 7780. Outreach Services; Killorglin weekly, Dingle monthly, please call Tralee for more information.

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000