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

11 o’clock

I do not doubt the Minister's passion for the issue. An exception was previously made for a student who experienced appendicitis during an exam. Let us not treat differently those who experience a seizure, as some unfortunately do. Let us take it that all of us across the Chamber, including the Minister and I, agree that if a student who experiences epilepsy has a seizure during an exam, it is only fair and right that he or she gets to repeat the exam during that exam cycle. The system we have at the minute places an increased level of anxiety on students who may already have experienced epilepsy during their lifetime. Let us just address this. I believe we both accept there is a gap and we need to step in and fill it. I appreciate the SEC has jurisdiction here but there is also a role for politicians to push that body and tell it that we need the review completed within this exam year because it is just really unfair. It seems a bit silly and we can get in front of it quickly.

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