Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

Just because it happened last year and the year before, it does not mean it is okay. Is this going to be the norm now? The Covid situation this year is quite different from the situation last year or the year before. The norm previously was for results to be out in the middle of August. This still left students in a difficult situation with regard to getting accommodation but it was more doable. It is now left extremely late in the context of the existing accommodation crisis, which includes a crisis in student accommodation. It is putting people under very substantial pressure.

I do not really believe the reasons given by the SEC and the Minister stand up. The provision of a deferred sitting for those who experienced a close family bereavement was mentioned. That accounts for a relatively small number of cases. I do not see why it would have to delay the results. The Minister also mentioned giving effect to her commitment that the results would be no lower, in the aggregate, than last year's. That commitment was made last February. It seems the issue is again fundamentally one of planning. We knew all of these things were happening. Why were plans not put in place to avoid this situation?

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