Education Minister Norma Foley has indicated that Leaving Cert results could "most likely" be released in August.

Around 61,000 students are expected to sit the Leaving Cert exams this year which are set to begin on Wednesday 7 June and end on Tuesday 27 June. However, at the moment three weeks out from the exams students don't know the exact date they will receive their results.

Minister for Education Norma Foley told Newstalk that she is engaging on an "ongoing basis" with the State Examinations Commission to get a date for the exam results.

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Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Leaving Cert results were traditionally released in mid-August each year. But in 2022 the exam results weren't released until the second of September which was blamed on Covid delays.

Minister Foley said: "They have additional demand this year and they've had so last year, in terms of the decision that there will be a second sitting of the Leaving Certificate Exam.

“For those who, for whatever reason, through illness or bereavement might not be in a position to sit the first exam – I think that's right and proper. It is my absolute preference that the date for Leaving Certificate would be within the August timeframe."

Minister Foley added that they are "working very, very hard" to get the results out by August. A lack of examiners in recent years has also been a major factor in the delays in issuing results.

An SEC spokesperson said: "The SEC is reliant on and deeply appreciative of, the co-operation of schools and teachers in the successful administration and assessment of the certificate examinations each year.

“The SEC is undertaking a comprehensive review of the issue of recruitment and retention of teachers as examiners, including working with all of the stakeholders to look at measures which will ensure the availability of teachers in the required numbers engage in this critical work in a sustainable way in the future."

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