Ms Andrea Feeney:

On the question of the impact of the examiner supply issue on the leaving certificate results, it is very clear that we have prioritised marking the leaving certificate. The number of examiners who marked junior cycle in 2019 was 1,756. The number who marked junior cycle this year was 1,270. However, at leaving certificate level, the numbers kept pace. The numbers in 2019 and 2022 were similar. That was very deliberate on our part. We prioritised the marking of the leaving certificate in the assignment of examiners to the marking teams as we recognised the importance of the leaving certificate results to the students involved as regards progression. I am not saying that the junior cycle results are unimportant but the leaving certificate results are important for students progressing to further and higher education and to the world of work. The priority in the assignment of examiners was, therefore, given to the leaving certificate. We want to increase the number of examiners available across the board so that we do not face this challenge at either leaving certificate or junior cycle level. As to the reassurance we can give, as I have reflected already, we see this as a whole-of-system issue. There are absolutely measures we need to take and work we need to continue with the stakeholders but it is a whole-of-system issue. We have had offers of support from the management representative bodies. We have worked very closely with them and with the teacher unions and we will continue to do so in order to deliver our system of examinations, which is externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission. It is marked by teachers who are marking students for the State Examinations Commission. There is work for us to do as an organisation in concert with all of the stakeholders.