Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

As I mentioned, almost one in four candidates at the 2024 certificate examinations were provided with some form of reasonable accommodation within the RACE scheme to support them in accessing State examinations, underlining the importance of the scheme. Deputies may be aware that an extensive range of accommodations are currently available for candidates with dyslexia. These include an individual reader, a reading assistant, an exam reading pen, a word processor, a recording device, additional time for any candidate who is using a scribe to provide for a time overhead in dictating answers, and a waiver from spelling, grammar and punctuation.

As the State Examinations Commission has affirmed, its review of the RACE scheme will seek to take account of all the relevant issues, including the question of additional time and best practice internationally. The State Examinations Commission's intention is to consult extensively with stakeholders, including representative organisations, as it progresses its review, which is of course crucial. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, welcomes its intention to progress any changes that may arise from the review on a rolling basis to avoid unnecessary delay in facilitating candidates to perform to the best of their ability in examinations. The Minister also welcomes the State Examinations Commission's commitment to addressing any issue and to improve the RACE scheme to best meet the needs of candidates with special educational needs now and into the future, while ensuring fairness for all candidates.

The Deputy asked me to bring the points he raised back to the Minister. I undertake to do so. He will appreciate that I am not in a position to give any confirmation of what might happen in the examination process next year. It is not under my remit. Equally, I do not think the Minister, Deputy McEntee, would have been able to give a confirmation today when a review is under way, but I undertake to relay back to her the points the Deputy raised.

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