Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a detailed update on the work her Department has undertaken with respect to preparing to provide extra time in State examinations for students with dyslexia, dyspraxia and other or diverse neurodevelopmental profiles; to confirm such accommodations for the 2026 State examinations; the engagements she has had with the State Examinations Commission in respect of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66965/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, 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 also to ensure that those who use assistive technology can do so in State examinations.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation and delivery of the State examinations, and facilitates access to the examinations through its scheme of reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations, otherwise known as the RACE scheme. The SEC has confirmed that, within the context of the comprehensive review that is underway, 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 confirmed 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.

In view of this, I have asked the SEC to respond directly to you with further detail about the RACE scheme and the ongoing review.