THE MINISTER for Education, Joe McHugh, has confirmed that the Leaving Certificate examinations will begin on Wednesday July 29.
The Minister confirmed the start date in the Dáil this evening.
The examination timetable will not be made available until early June.
McHugh urged young people who feel stressed to ‘please reach out’ and he hailed the ‘phenomenal efforts’ across schools and educational establishments who have maintained learning and supports.
Leaving Certification examination fees will be deferred until after the exams and announced pro-rata refunds of school transport fees for days where busses haven’t run.
Mr McHugh said: “Following the initial announcement that schools would be closed until the 29th March, and in light of the exceptional circumstances, it was agreed that school transport contractors would be paid at the normal or full rate for the period up to 29th March 2020.
“It was then decided that a payment of 50% would be afforded for the week commencing Monday 30th March until Friday 3rd April 2020 and again for last week and this.
“I am happy to now be able to say that I have decided that this 50% payment will continue whilst schools are closed as a result of the public health restrictions.
“Given that the school transport service has not been available to children for the last number of weeks, I have decided that at the end of the school year when the exact impact in terms of numbers of weeks of school closure is known, a refund for that period of closure will be issued to parents.”