TDs demand answers on Leaving Cert results

Government TDs should urge Education Minister Norma Foley to provide answers and clarity on Leaving Certificate 2023 results, say Sinn Féin TDs Sorca Clarke and Mairead Farrell.

Today Deputies Sorca Clarke and Mairéad Farrell, spokespersons on education and higher education respectively, voiced concerns and the reported delays to the publication of this year’s Leaving Cert results.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the Irish Universities Association (IUA), and the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) have called on Minister Foley to bring forward the date of this year’s results in line with pre-Covid times.

Teachta Clarke said: “In a matter of weeks the six year Students across the nation will sit their first exam in Leaving Certificate 2023, but the date they can expect to receive their results remains unknown.

“Although it is expected to be closer to the date results were received last year (September 2) than the pre-Covid-19 date of mid-August, there has been a complete failure to ensure examiners, markers and the process for dealing with deferrals are in place prior to the exams.”

This is increasing the pressure on students, parents and schools at an already stressful time, said the Longford Westmeath TD.

Her party colleague Teachta Farrell said that no lessons appeared to have been learned from the last three years: “The delays in receiving results leads to delays for first year students beginning college life and another last minute scramble for college accommodation. Minister Foley has had ample time and opportunity to resolve these issues and has failed our young people yet again.”