Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students impacted by the errors in the calculated grading process; the number that have sought another course; the number that have deferred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30135/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education.

On 03 October I announced that improved Calculated Grades would issue that day to students who received lower Calculated Grades than they should have, as a result of errors that were found in the Calculated Grades process.

As a result of rectification of these errors, a total of 6,100 students received higher calculated grades. This breaks down as follows:

- 5,408 students received a higher grade, by one grade band, in one subject,

- 621 students received a higher grade, by one grade band, in two subjects,

- 71 students received a higher grade, by one grade band, in three or more subjects.

CAO Round 4 offers issued on 8 October. As part of that round, I understand that 485 CAO applicants received new offers on this date on foot of having improved results following the errors in the Calculated Grades. These 485 applicants received 422 Level 8 offers and 75 Level 7/6 offers between them.

All of these applicants have an opportunity to start the courses offered in Round 4 in the current academic year.