Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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622. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if third level students will be provided with an option to sit all summer 2021 examinations online due to the current Covid-19 pandemic; the additional safety measures that have been put in place for third level students who will sit examinations in person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26416/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Throughout Level 5, higher education remained almost entirely online, with exceptions made where on-site presence is necessary for practical and time-critical work. It is anticipated that the remainder of the 2020/21 academic year will also continue predominantly online. Reflecting the scale and diversity of third-level provision and using their discretion higher education institutions will continue to determine where onsite presence is required.

It would therefore be expected that the majority of end of year assessments will take place online, except in cases where the assessment involves elements which cannot be facilitated remotely. Ultimately it is a matter for the higher education institutions to determine which assessment activities will take place in-person, in line with their autonomy. The safety measures put in place are also a matter for the institutions themselves, taking account of the public health situation nationally and locally.