Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I acknowledge the reports of the ombudsman and the special rapporteur in terms of their conclusions and observations in respect of children and students from certain backgrounds without access to technology or other factors. The impact the pandemic had on them was particularly profound. Not all students do the leaving certificate applied but for the cohort doing the leaving certificate applied, the scaling factor applied to the written papers, for example, was increased from 1.5 to 1.25, so in all papers that the various cohorts will be doing, adjustments will be made to take account of the challenges that they faced. That is why, for example, we were determined in January to reopen the schools. For a large period around this time last year, the schools were closed and we were in level 5 completely. The adjustments are very significant. Cutting by one third the content of most papers will give wide choice. There is also the fact the standardisation will ensure there will not be that disadvantage when compared with those who completed it last year.

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