Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all know junior cycle students, directly or indirectly, who are about to sit their State examinations and have been affected by this. They have travelled a difficult journey in recent years. The Senator alluded to this but I know representatives of the Department of Education and the State Examinations Commission have met with members of the public health team to discuss matters around the State examinations. That engagement is continuing. NPHET is meeting today and should any changes be made to public health guidance, they will be included in the decision around State examinations.

The note I have here makes reference to why junior cycle students who cannot sit the main junior cycle examinations cannot avail of the same alternative set of examinations in the same way as leaving certificate students. The opportunity for certain categories of leaving certificate students to sit an alternative set of examinations recognises the high-stakes nature of those examinations as, effectively, the gateway for many to further or higher education, training, apprenticeships or the world of work. That is why resources have been prioritised towards making available an alternative sitting of examinations for leaving certificate students. The junior cycle examinations are not in the same category. I will relay the Senator's concerns to the Minister for Education.