Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a review of the structure of the leaving certificate examinations to look at the longer-term changes that can be made to lessen the stress of the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34793/21]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Will the Minister consider a review of the structure of the leaving certificate examinations to look at the longer-term changes that can be made to lessen the stress of the examinations?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to all students because of school closures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Yesterday, following a meeting of the advisory group on planning for State examinations, I announced that the level of adjustment to the assessment arrangements for the 2022 leaving certificate examination cohort would be broadly the same as that applied to the assessment arrangements for leaving certificate examinations 2021, as announced in December 2020. I also announced that the State Examinations Commission, SEC, will run an alternative set of leaving certificate examinations in 2022 shortly following the main set of examinations.

The Deputy will also be aware that a review of Ireland's senior cycle is under way. I recognise that while the present senior cycle has its strengths, it also has a number of shortcomings that must be addressed. In this regard, I believe we must examine key issues at senior cycle delivery such as the timing of assessments and assessment components and broader issues of curriculum. I am committed to the review of the senior cycle.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, has undertaken an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways. It is important to highlight that this goes beyond the established leaving certificate but includes transition year, the leaving certificate applied and the leaving certificate vocational programme. The NCCA has recently submitted the senior cycle review advisory report to the Department. The advisory report is being considered at the moment and will be published in due course. This work will be advanced as quickly as possible.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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I will focus on yesterday's announcement. There is to be additional choice for the students regarding leaving certificate 2022, there is to be additional time for leaving certificate students in 2022 and the choice and additional time take account of the time lost. I wish to underline the serious amount of time lost as a result of the pandemic last year, which comprised January, February, March and part of April. Those students lost more than three months of direct teaching time. There is also the possibility of complications in September if what the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, said the other day is anywhere near the mark. Yesterday's statement indicated that the details will be published this month. Can the Minister be more precise and give us a date by which those changes will be made public?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, I am very conscious of the time lost in terms of in-person teaching and learning for the class of 2022. I acknowledge the work of the advisory group. When I reference the advisory group, I want to be clear about who is involved in that. As the students, parents, teachers, joint managerial bodies and the Department are at the heart of that, it is a representative and rounded group of people who have engaged over a long time to address a variety of issues - in this instance, making provision for the leaving certificate of 2022. The accommodations that have been announced take account of that loss of in-person teaching and learning. The conclusion of that process took place yesterday. It is my intention that the detail in that regard will be sent to the schools as a matter of priority. It will be there in a very short space of time.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Regarding the next school year, when will the Covid-19 cleaning supports for schools be announced? It is now July and schools are reopening in August. They have less than two months and need to plan ahead. Will they have these cleaning supports again next year and to what extent will they have them? Last year, they found out at the last minute. There was a lot of pressure and stress. The pressure and stress would be relieved if it could be announced sooner rather than later that schools will get Covid-19 cleaning support grants. Can the Minister indicate when an announcement will be made on that?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply conscious of the ongoing work in our schools throughout the pandemic. The Deputy will appreciate that the situation is always in flux for both the education sector and society as we deal with the pandemic. Notwithstanding that, considerable planning has gone into provision not just for this year but for the new school year as it begins in September. Schools have already been informed that all provisions in terms of PPE, hand sanitiser and other mitigation measures required for schools in September will be in place and provided for by the Department, as they were previously. We engage with public health on an ongoing basis every step of the way and should there be any additional requirements, they will be put in place and provided for and resourced by the Department.