Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I am grateful to the Senator for raising this really important issue once again. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for education.

As the Senator is aware, the State Examinations Commission has responsibility for the reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations, RACE, scheme. A central tenet of the RACE scheme is to ensure equitable treatment for all candidates. The range of accommodations provided within the scheme has been designed to ensure fairness for all when facilitating candidates in demonstrating their level of achievement. It is important to note that access to the scheme is needs-based rather than based on a specific diagnosis. This is in line with best practice internationally and with well-embedded special education policy in Ireland.

Candidates who have learning difficulties, including dyslexia, are provided with accommodations on the grounds of a learning difficulty without the need for any diagnosis. This is established by criteria, such as a standard score test for reading and-or writing conducted by the school, and by the description of the candidate's normal way of working in school in the application form. The SEC, as the Senator is aware, is currently undertaking a review of the RACE scheme in the context of senior cycle redevelopment and of the wider special educational needs policy landscape. This is a comprehensive and system-wide review of the scheme.

The programme for Government commits to developing an appropriate mechanism to allow additional time for students with specific needs and, in certain circumstances, and to ensure that those who use assistive technology can do so in State examinations. The review by the SEC, which is now well under way, will seek to take account of these and other relevant issues and best practice internationally.

The review is directed by the board of commissioners of the SEC and overseen by a steering group, with the terms of reference published on the SEC website. The inclusion of internal SEC members as well as external members is to ensure that rolling changes can be implemented as the review progresses, rather than awaiting a big bang approach at the end of the full review period. This will ensure any changes are implemented as early as possible and, quite clearly, in the interest of students.

Already, and on a pilot basis for the 2025 examinations, additional time for vision-impaired candidates, who are under the care of the visiting teacher service, was increased from ten minutes per hour or part of an hour to 15 minutes for junior cycle, leaving certificate applied and leaving certificate. These arrangements were piloted for all those students nationally who were deemed eligible.

Given the wide range of difficulties for which accommodations are sought, the review is seeking the views of users through extensive consultation and engagement to capture all perspectives and ensure all voices are heard equally. This will include and has included young people with special educational needs, their families and representative organisations. I understand the State Examinations Commission has met a number of times with Dyslexia Ireland, for example, among other bodies. I know it has appeared before the joint Oireachtas committee. These consultations will inform any appropriate changes to the shape of the scheme for the 2026 State examinations and beyond.

The State Examinations Commission has recently issued the RACE instructions for schools for 2026. While the SEC has not confirmed any adjustments to the RACE scheme for the 2026 examinations within this publication, it has confirmed that it is continuing to work on piloting arrangements for additional time to be in place for the 2026 examinations. The SEC is actively working to determine appropriate conditions of eligibility. All those nationally who meet the appropriate conditions of eligibility will be included.

The SEC acknowledges that there is increasing complexity in the special educational landscape and, by extension, in the impact on candidates with special educational needs taking the certificate examinations. The extensive consultation and engagement to be undertaken as part of this comprehensive review will provide an opportunity for the views of those affected to be fully reflected.