Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding leaving certificate students that are studying individual subjects externally in order to qualify for specific course requirements (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to concerns among students that the recent announcement indicating a delay in the results being announced will negatively impact on them potentially forcing them to miss the start of their course. [18216/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A system of Calculated Grades was put in place by my predecessor due to the inability to run the normal Leaving Certificate examinations this year. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving Certificate students.

For the calculated grades system to be operated with integrity, an estimated percentage mark, based on credible, satisfactory evidence, can only be accepted from an appropriate source. This is necessary to ensure fairness to all students. 

On 16 July, I announced that students will receive their Calculated Grades on 7 September. This is the earliest possible release date given the rigorous and robust quality assurance checks required to ensure the process has executed with equity and fairness to all students and to ensure that the 2020 results enjoy the same status as those of previous years. The results will be available in time for Round 1 offers from CAO and through UCAS for colleges and universities in Ireland and the UK respectively.

For those seeking to enter Bachelor in Education programmes for primary teachers, I should note that the colleges involved have engaged with the Teaching Council on this matter. The Council has recommended that on an exceptional basis in 2020, students who have sought and are unable to receive a calculated grade in Irish in Leaving Certificate 2020 may use the standard of TEG B2 in the Teastas Eorpach sa Ghaeilge (TEG) oral examination as an equivalent to Gaeilge H4 in the Leaving Certificate for the purposes of entry onto the Bachelor in Education programme in the 2020/2021 academic year.  The Calculated Grades Executive Office informed all affected students of availability of this facility.