Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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530. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 21 October 2025, if she is satisfied that the response from the State Examinations Commission is adequate and offers sufficient allowances for students with dyslexia and dyspraxia (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61652/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to developing an appropriate mechanism to allow additional time for students with specific needs and in certain circumstances, and to ensure that those who use assistive technology can do so in State examinations. The comprehensive review of the RACE scheme which is underway now by the SEC will seek to take account of these and other relevant issues, as well as best practice internationally.

I have recently met with the State Examinations Commission in relation to the Programme for Government commitment and the RACE review. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has confirmed that, within the context of the review, it is working on a scheme of additional time which will be piloted for the 2026 examinations.

Appropriate eligibility criteria for the scheme are being currently worked out. The SEC has assured me that the scheme will be available in 2026, and for all candidates nationally who meet the eligibility criteria. These criteria will be needs-based rather than diagnosis-based, as is the case for all other accommodations.

This information has been confirmed in the RACE Instructions for Schools 2026 issued in October. The details of the additional time scheme will be confirmed at a later date, and candidates and schools are encouraged to apply as normal for accommodations under the RACE scheme.

The Deputy may wish to note that a similar approach was taken by the SEC in 2025 in relation to piloting an increase in additional time for vision impaired candidates, who are supported by the Visiting Teacher Service. The additional time already available to these candidates was increased from 10 minutes per hour or part of an hour to 15 minutes for Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate. These arrangements were piloted in 2025 for all those students nationally who were deemed eligible.