Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take for persons that sat their oral Irish examination without preparation for same due to industrial action in their schools at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33183/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Following consultation with the education partners regarding the Leaving Certificate Oral Tests in Irish (Higher/Ordinary and Foundation Levels), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Russian, it was agreed that the tests would commence on Monday 27th March, 2017 and finish on Friday 7th April, 2017. This happened without any disruption and my department has not received any indication that the process was adversely affected by industrial action.

The Leaving Certificate programme is designed to be delivered over a full two years with a considerable degree of flexibility available to schools in how and when the full range of syllabus material is covered.  Where loss of class time occurs for any exceptional reason, schools and teachers will seek to ensure that their students are supported in covering all of the necessary course material in order to prepare adequately for examinations.  The commitment of our teachers and schools to their students is acknowledged and appreciated in this respect.  

The optional oral tests for the Junior Cycle could be taken at any time between 9th January and 10th March, 2017 and again my Department has not received any indication that the process was adversely affected by industrial action.