My officials are continuing to engage with colleagues in the Department of Education and State Exams Commission (SEC) on this matter. I am supportive of my Cabinet colleague Minister McEntee and her officials as they commence the phased and gradual return to normal Leaving Certificate outcomes that will begin in 2025. It is widely recognised that it is appropriate to return over time to normal arrangements for Leaving Certificate outcomes in line with the announcement made by the Minister for Education last year (17 April 2024), that the return to normal Leaving Certificate outcomes would begin in 2025.
It is my understanding that this is being done gradually in line with the commitment that there would be no “cliff edge” in overall results so as to minimise, in so far as possible, the impact on students. I am aware that the SEC will again apply a post-marking adjustment after all marking is complete, which, this year, will bring results in the aggregate to a point broadly midway between 2020 and 2021 levels. The Department of Education and SEC will review the process for the following year. The examinations and assessment adjustments that have applied in recent years continue to apply for students in 2025.
While there have been suggestions for different approaches regarding CAO applicants with prior years' results, the principle remains that each year's Leaving Certificate stands on its own merits. This ensures fairness and consistency for all students. This has been previously adjudicated by the High Court.
The CAO and Higher Education Institutions are working to respond to student demand. The gradual return to normal results is seen as the fairest approach, similar to methods used in other jurisdictions like Northern Ireland.
I understand that the Leaving Certificate can be a stressful time for students and their families. This includes the decisions for students in determining their pathways into work or continued education through the Further Education and Training or Higher Education systems.
My Department has been working tirelessly with the higher education and further education sectors to provide increased opportunities and pathways, helping to reduce pressure and open doors to a bright future. I am committed to supporting students, as evidenced by the creation of additional places in high-demand courses such as medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and others. This year will see the commencement of new programmes in dentistry and pharmacy, as well as the further expansion of existing programmes in medicine, physiotherapy and pharmacy. Engagements are ongoing regarding further expansion for 2025 and beyond.
Additionally, new veterinary programmes are being established in Atlantic Technological University and South East Technological University. At full rollout, it is expected that these programmes will have an annual intake of 80 veterinary medicine students, nearly doubling the current intake. These programmes are expected to commence in September 2026.
