Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed confirmation from his party colleague and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, that this year’s Leaving Cert students will receive their exam results on Friday, 25 August.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said: “It was the preference of students and indeed the preference of my colleagues and I in Fianna Fáil that results would be issued within the traditional August timeframe. I welcome this step towards pre-pandemic norms in relation to the timing of results and would like to thank Minister Foley for listening to students and delivering on this timeline.

“It’s also most welcome that the State Examinations Commission will again provide a deferred examinations sitting for those who, for whatever reason, through illness or bereavement might not be in a position to sit the first exam, and also implement a post-marking adjustment following completion of marking, in the context of avoiding any cliff edge in grades as compared to the pandemic years.”

Minister Foley has also confirmed that, as for this year, adjustments will be made to the assessment arrangements for students due to sit State examinations next year. The level of adjustment will be the same as that applied to State examinations in 2022 and 2023, but updated as relevant.

Detail on the adjusted assessment arrangements will be issued to schools in due course, and schools will be asked to ensure that all students are made aware of these changes.

Deputy Smith added: “Thankfully, we are continuing to progress towards normality following the disruption to teaching and learning resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the impact of the pandemic is not yet in the past.

“We recognise that it will have disrupted teaching and learning for the cohort of students sitting State examinations this year and indeed the majority of those sitting Leaving Certificate examinations in 2024 will not have sat Junior Cycle examinations. 

“I am pleased that Minister Foley has provided clarity and certainty to students across Cavan and Monaghan and I am confident that the adjustments made acknowledge the disruption faced by these students as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in a proportional manner.”

Deputy Smith concluded by wishing all students sitting State exams the very best of luck. “These exams are the culmination of many days and nights of hard work and I want to acknowledge the determination and efforts on the part of our students, teachers and the wider school community,” he said.