Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I strongly criticise the decision of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, to delay the issuing of the results of the leaving certificate until 7 September. It was supposed to be mid-August. Students have been left high and dry as the Department stumbles from crisis to crisis. Even more unanswered questions remain after the Minister's interview on the "Morning Ireland" programme this morning. It is astonishing that the Minister stated that she did not answer questions in the Dáil because she wanted to consult stakeholders first, yet we have learned that the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, ISSU, has not been consulted at all. Primary stakeholders, young people and their families, have not been consulted.

While the Minister has stated that CAO and UCAS applications will be facilitated, there remains a lack of clarity for students who may be considering study in other jurisdictions. I am thinking about the North, Dundee and Aberdeen, for example. We need real clarity, therefore, on how the appeals process for results will work, especially given the tight timelines for CAO offers at the beginning of the academic year, as has been mentioned.

Most disappointing is the Minister's failure to acknowledge the issue of families and students finding accommodation. That is no paper exercise. It involves significant financial commitments and this revised timeline adds to the stress involved. I echo other voices in this House and state that we need the Minister to come to these Houses. Sinn Féin has made this call several times since last night and we will do so until the Minister gives clarity to young people and their families.