Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Tánaiste told leaving certificate students that clarity on the exams will be provided within the next few weeks. This comment went down like a lead balloon among students who are already feeling a real strain on their mental health. This strain on 17 and 18-year-olds is being caused by both the continuing uncertainty and the continuing threat of a forced leaving certificate examination. The Tánaiste’s comments indicate to me that the Government is both out of touch and out of the loop when it comes to really understanding of what is going on here. The Irish Second-Level Students' Union, ISSU, poll published last week showed just 4% support for a stand-alone leaving certificate. Does the Tánaiste accept that stand-alone exams cannot now go ahead given such a crushing level of opposition from the students themselves?

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