The oral and practical exams for both Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle exams have been cancelled.

All students due to sit these tests beginning March 23 will be given full marks with the announcement made in a conference this morning. Minister for Education, Joe McHugh said that no decision has been made on the state examinations which take place in June every year. He also said "fairness" was at the heart of the decision and the Department have "student welfare in mind" as going ahead with these exams at a later date would be unfair. It is also not yet known when schools will reopen although it is likely that closures will extend past March 29. These include orals in Leaving Cert Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese. It also applies to practical performance tests in Leaving and Junior Cert Music and Junior Cert Home Ec. However, there is a second phase of practical exams due to take place at the end of April and at the moment, no decision has been made on whether they will be cancelled. According to the deadline for submission of project and coursework has been extended until May 15 with this measure impacting students taking exams in Agricultural Science, History, Art and Geography among others.