Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
254. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education when Leaving Certificate results will be published in 2023; if she will ensure that students receive their results in a timely manner to facilitate those studying away from home including those who have conditional offers to third-level institutions outside of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18979/23]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission (SEC), has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. The SEC has not confirmed a date on which the Leaving Certificate 2023 results will be issued. However, it continues to work intensively to prepare for the examinations process.
There were a number of factors that affected the timing of results of State examinations in 2022. These included a challenge in recruiting sufficient examiners, the provision of deferred examinations at Leaving Certificate for candidates who experienced illness or bereavement, and the implementation of a post-marking adjustment. For 2023, in relation to the recruitment of examiners, the SEC is undertaking a review of this issue with all of the second level stakeholders with the objective of substantially increasing the number of teachers involved. The SEC’s recruitment campaign for written examiners is ongoing and a new recruitment hub has been launched at secexaminer.ie. Also, a deferred set of examinations will be offered again this year for students who experience bereavement or serious illness arising at the time of the main examinations. I have previously stated that there would be no “cliff edge” for this year’s students in relation to grades, and this is also part of the planning ongoing for 2023 examinations.
In relation to students applying to universities abroad, in particular the EU and the UK, in 2022 there were instances where universities were seeking to have results earlier than 2 September. I wrote to my counterparts across Europe in July 2022 asking for their assistance in ensuring students were facilitated. The Department of Education also engaged directly with universities in relation to students who were in contact looking for assistance. This was met with positive responses overall and anyone who contacted the Department of Education directly with their details was facilitated and did not miss out on a place to study abroad. The same approach will be taken in 2023 if it is needed.
