Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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622. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timing for the sitting of the leaving certificate 2020; if it will be completed in time for college intake in September and October 2020; if not, if these students will be categorised as deferred entrants for the 2021 college intake; and if so, if they will have more than one choice available to them on the CAO system. [15379/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The timeframe for sitting the postponed Leaving Certificate 2020 examinations cannot be determined at this time pending public health advice that would identify a safe period of time to do so and pending the confirmation of the number of candidates that will sit each subject. It is not expected that students who seek to rely on the results of the postponed examinations will be able to commence a third level place in the 2020/2021 academic year.

Students who opt to sit the Leaving Certificate examinations at a later stage when it is safe to do so, and who receive an improved CAO offer on foot of these results, will receive a deferred college offer to start their course in the 2021/22 academic year. If a candidate who has started first year of a course becomes entitled to a higher CAO offer and chooses to accept same in the following academic year, attendance for the first year on the new course would remain eligible for free fees and SUSI funding as appropriate.