Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be fair to all who have engaged in this process, we were in a position yesterday, at the end of June, to make an announcement regarding forward planning for the class of 2022, which includes accommodation in terms of the exam. It is proportionate. It is the accommodation that was made available originally in August, with a further modification in December in terms of the assessment of the exam. We have gone a step further in June by announcing to students in advance of June 2022 that we are in a position and it is our intention to run a second diet or operation of leaving certificate 2022 to accommodate and make way for students who might, unfortunately, suffer a bereavement, an illness, an impact brought on by Covid-19 or whatever other issue might arise in that context. There has been considerable planning. Obviously, we keep everything under review and we engage with public health. It is a significant achievement that we are in a position to make this announcement one year in advance for the benefit of students.

See this speech in context