Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The sraitheanna pictiúr, or picture sequences, are a component of the common Irish Oral test for Higher Level and Ordinary Level candidates, with the Oral test accounting for 40% of the overall marks for Leaving Cert Irish.

In response to issues highlighted in National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) research about the sraitheanna pictiúr and the conversational elements of the Oral Irish exam, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) introduced adjustments to the structure of the Common Oral examination for the 2020 exams and thereafter. These aim to create greater opportunity for candidate-examiner interaction and so give the candidate scope to display their competence while keeping a balance between the different parts of the oral exam. However, the oral exams did not take place in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Since then there have been adjustments to assessment arrangements in light of the pandemic’s impact on teaching and learning. These adjustments have been made with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, in relation to student-to-student, subject-to-subject, and year-to-year comparisons. They include a reduction in the number of sraitheanna pictiúr that each candidate must prepare from 20 to 10. On the 16th of May 2023, I announced that these adjustments would apply again in 2024.

A decision has not yet been made in relation to assessment adjustments for 2025. The details of any assessment adjustments which may apply to the 2025 examinations will be communicated to schools once a decision is made, and schools will be asked to ensure that all students are made aware of these changes.