Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

The point I would make is that more than one in four candidates at the 2025 certificate examinations were provided with some form of reasonable accommodation within the RACE scheme to support them in accessing the State examinations, underlining the importance of the scheme. In 2025, 36,000 candidates in 750 post-primary schools were accommodated in the scheme. I completely understand the Senator's frustration; I am not going to mince my words here. He and I had this discussion before and it was raised and replied to in good faith. Of course, the Minister welcomes the SEC's intention to pilot a scheme of additional time on a national basis at the 2026 certificate examinations. There are processes in place for a good reason. It is not my reason. I share the Senator's frustration. It makes absolute sense, for me, to add additional time but all I can say is I will convey the Senator's very real frustration and that of thousands of families around the country to the Minister and the SEC.