1349. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provisions available to Leaving Certificate students who are prevented from sitting both the main examinations and the deferred examination sitting due to serious illness, emergency surgery or other exceptional medically certified circumstances; whether any alternative assessment arrangements exist in such cases; whether consideration is being given to reviewing the current system where a student is unable to complete either examination sitting through no fault of their own; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62725/26]

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation and delivery of State examinations including the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE). Deferred examinations fall within the scope of the RACE Scheme and the SEC has advised me that they approach all applications for access to the deferred examinations in a humane and consistent way, and with due regard to equity and fairness for all candidates.

It may be useful to know that the SEC, directed by the Board of Commissioners, is undertaking a comprehensive system wide review of the RACE Scheme. A Steering Group has been established, and details of the review are available at RACE Review - State Examination Commission https://www.examinations.ie/RACEReview/ The Terms of Reference for the review include a commitment to review policy on the nature of the provision for deferred examinations.

I have asked the SEC to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the detail sought.