Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Doherty for the opportunity to come to the House today and to hear her views. As I outlined earlier, it is very important we are conscious of what has been experienced by the class of 2022. I am extremely conscious of that. As previously outlined and as reiterated by the Senator, accommodations were made with the exam papers in August. Equally, there have been recent changes to the operation, including the orals taking place over Easter time and the musical practical exams. Notwithstanding that, it is important that all voices are afforded the opportunity to be heard with regard to how we progress.

I am pleased to say we had a number of engagements with the advisory group, the last of which was on 20 December. The next engagement with the advisory group, which includes parents, students, teachers, and managerial bodies, will take place tomorrow to consider their views and advice on the State exams for 2022.I look forward to that engagement. It has been a very productive and useful forum for us, right throughout Covid, which has worked very well and co-operatively in the best interests of the education sector and, of course, the students we serve. I look forward to those deliberations and discussions tomorrow. As always, it will be most helpful.