Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way his Department intends to address the issue of fairness in 2025 Leaving Certificate grading adjustments; the way his Department will ensure students who deferred their college applications from 2024 having received results under a different grading standard, will not have an advantage over those sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2025; and if there will be specific measures or adjustments to ensure fairness in the CAO process. [15094/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An increase in the overall set of results was noted in Ireland and internationally following pandemic-related interventions in examinations. In Ireland, the implementation of Calculated Grades in 2020 and Accredited Grades alongside examinations in 2021 resulted in overall results on the aggregate, as measured on the composite, level adjusted scale, that were approximately 7 percentage points higher than those in 2019.

In order to ensure that students who had been impacted by the COVID pandemic would not be disadvantaged with regard to access to further and higher education, the then Minister, Norma Foley T.D., made a commitment that there would be no “cliff-edge” seen in terms of the overall set of Leaving Certificate results. In fulfilment of this commitment, the State Examinations Commission has applied a post-marking adjustment that has ensured that results in the aggregate remained the same on average since 2021.

As is widely recognised, it is appropriate to return over time to normal arrangements for Leaving Certificate outcomes and on 17 April 2024, the then Minister for Education announced that the return to normal Leaving Certificate outcomes would begin in 2025. This is being done in a gradual way in order to minimise the impact on students in so far as possible.

This year the State Examinations Commission will apply a post marking adjustment which will bring the overall Leaving Certificate results in the aggregate to a point broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 level. While lower than the 2024 outcomes, results on the aggregate in 2025 are expected to be above 2019 levels by at least 5.5 percentage points on average. The level of future year adjustments to examinations and assessment after 2025 and the timeline for phasing out a post-marking adjustment will be informed by the 2025 experience.

Matters in relation to access to higher education are a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Educatio, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). DFHERIS has advised that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs, including admissions procedures. The Central Applications Office (CAO) is an independent body which processes applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions, including the points awarded in respect of different qualifications, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates.