Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister is aware, Epilepsy Ireland has long campaigned to ensure that if a student experiences a medical emergency, such as a seizure, during the leaving certificate exam and is unable to complete the exam, he or she should be given the opportunity to resit the exam within the deferred exam cycle. The fact that this is not already the case is beyond belief.

I raised this matter with the Minister about 18 months ago. I implore her to ensure that those who experience seizures, or other medical emergencies, during the leaving certificate are allowed to resit the exam in the same summer. At this time there is a cruel distinction between those who experience an emergency before and during the exam, with the former given reasonable accommodation and the latter excluded.

As the Minister is aware, seizures are unpredictable. Stress and anxiety can lower a person's seizure threshold. The leaving certificate can be one of the most stressful periods in a student's life. Students with epilepsy have a heightened anxiety knowing that if they have a seizure during the exam and are unable to complete it, the only option for them is to repeat the exam a year later. This situation should not be allowed to continue.

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