Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter. I have listened to him many times raise it previously and I know how passionate he is about it. I am sure that many of the 13,000 students want to see the same change sought by the Senator. It is time for action.

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, and the Department of Education. I assure the Senator that the State Examinations Commission takes very seriously its obligations in providing access to the certificate examinations for students with special education needs. The SEC is fully committed to providing an examination and assessment system with the highest possible standards of inclusiveness, equity and fairness which enables all candidates to display their achievements.

The State Examinations Commission works closely with school authorities, the Department of Education and other agencies to provide access to examinations for candidates with special educational needs. It also actively engages with persons with disabilities through their representative organisations. The State Examinations Commission has a duty to make the service equally available to as many people as possible. I am informed that almost one in four candidates at the 2024 certificate examinations was provided with some form of reasonable accommodations within the RACE scheme to support them in accessing the leaving certificate, leaving certificate applied and the junior cycle examinations

From the 2016-17 school year, the RACE scheme has undergone fundamental reform. The reform focused on ensuring greater integration of the RACE scheme with overall Department of Education special educational needs policy, enabling greater access to the scheme by students with learning difficulties and allowing greater autonomy to schools and certainty to students about the examination supports which will be available to them.

The candidate-centred changes were informed by engagement with stakeholders and included representatives of students, including those with special educational needs such as the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, the Special Needs Parents Association, school management and leadership bodies, Government agencies and statutory bodies, including the National Council for Special Education and the National Disability Authority, the Department of Education and the National Educational Psychological Service.

Since this reform, the RACE scheme has been subject to a process of ongoing review and improvement by the SEC.The commission's recent enactment of the scheme includes the introduction of further examinations for leaving certificate candidates who missed their examinations in the main sitting due to close family bereavement, or serious accident, illness or injury. In the context of the senior cycle reform, which the Senator discussed, the SEC has commenced work on a comprehensive system-wide review of the RACE scheme. The focus of the review will be increasing the use of assistive technology to enhance access and integration, and to further support independent learning. The terms of reference for the review have recently been agreed by the SEC board of commissioners. The review will consider all relevant issues and take into account the best practice internationally. The composition of the structures that will underpin the review is being finalised. This will include extensive consultation and engagement with as broad a range of stakeholders as possible, including young people with special education needs, their families and representative organisations.