Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the number of sraith pictiúr the incoming sixth years will have to learn under the new Leaving Certificate reforms. [22403/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The sraith 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 sraith pictiúr that each candidate must prepare from 20 to 10.

On 23 April, I confirmed that the changes made to the Leaving Certificate exams in recent years will continue to apply for Leaving Certificate 2026, and an email issued to all schools on 29 April. These changes assist students by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice. In some cases the adjustment measures provide more time for tuition by, for example, reducing preparatory work and in regard to the sraith pictiúr, it will mean preparing 10 rather than 20.

An updated document setting out the adjustments to assessment arrangements, to include year-to-year changes to prescribed materials and coursework, will issue to schools once finalised.

The adjustments to the number of sraith pictiúr relate to the current Irish specification for Leaving Certificate for Leaving Certificate 2026. The Deputy may wish to note that Irish is included in Tranche 4 of the subjects to be redeveloped as part of Senior Cycle reform, and development of a revised specification and revised assessment arrangements has not yet commenced.