Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I confirm again to the Deputy that I am absolutely committed to ensuring the State examinations of 2021 will operate what we might call traditionally and as normal. This is a commitment shared, as I said, by the State Examinations Commission, SEC, which has statutory responsibility for operating the exams. We are moving in that direction, as the Deputy outlined himself. There is an absolute commitment from Government and, indeed, it became very clear at the weekend, from wider society also, that schools would remain open and it is a shared objective. Again it is a particularly strong shared objective with the partners in education. In recognising that commitment to move forward and to progress as normally as we can in extraordinary times, we are doing all we can to ensure schools will remain open and remain open safely. Accommodation has been made for the adjudication of the 2021 leaving certificate in terms of the exam paper, the wider choices and issues like that will be identified on the day for students.

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