CLARE TD, Donna McGettigan (SF) has said the decision to reintroduce fees for State examinations is squeezing families even more.
Parents of students sitting State examinations have been informed that that the temporary measures introduced in recent years under which examination entry fees were waived will not be in place next year.
In a notice to schools, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) confirmed the fees are €116 per candidate for the Leaving Certificate and €109 per candidate for the Junior Certificate. The SEC Online Fee Service closes on Monday 30th April 2026.
This week parents across Co Clare received letters requesting payment for the State examinations.
Sinn Féin TDs nationwide are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to reinstate exam fees for Junior and Leaving Certificate students as households struggle with the cost-of-living pressure. “The last thing parents need is another bill landing in their door,” she stated.
Deputy McGettigan commented, “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael chose to reinstate these exam fees in October’s budget, fully aware of the pressure on working households due to rising prices and big bills. These letters are landing at a time when people are being hammered by rapid increases in fuel costs.”
“Families are struggling to fill their cars and heat their homes, they’re watching every euro, and now the Government comes to squeeze them even more. It demonstrates again that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are completely out of touch with the pressure people are under, and clueless about the daily miracles parents perform to stretch the household budget and keep the show on the road. The Government easily finds the money to gift generous tax breaks to big developers and corporate landlords. So, they should be able to find the money needed to abolish state exam fees. I am calling on the Minister to reverse this decision immediately, scrap state exam fees, and give families a break,” she added.
