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Leaving and Junior Cert Practical Exams Postponed Due to Fuel Protests

Alex Rowley
Alex Rowley

09:31 13 Apr 2026


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Two practical exams have been called off due to possible disruptions from protests.

The Leaving Cert Music and Junior Cycle Home Economics' practical examinations have been deferred.

The State Examinations Commission has taken the decision as it cannot be sure all examiners and students will be able to travel to their schools.

It will put alternative arrangements in place for affected students and will contact impacted schools directly with further details.

The Social Democrats have slammed the last minute decision, claiming it causes unnecessary stress to students.

Meanwhile, Bus Eireann has confirmed it WILL be resuming its school transport buses today.

Protests

Slow moving convoys and road closures by fuel protestors are continuing today.

This morning, motorways such as the M1, M3 and M9 were impacted by slow moving traffic.

Dublin's O'Connell Street has been fully re-opened,  just a day after tractors, lorries and trucks blocking the street were moved along by the Garda Public Order Unit.

Luas and Dublin Bus services are back operating as normal.

Supports

The Dail will vote tomorrow on the latest package of measures to alleviate the fuel crisis.

The Government package provides for a 10c a litre cut to petrol and diesel and a 2.4c cut to marked gas oil from midnight on Tuesday.

It also needs to be given the nod by Europe to breach minimum tax requirements on diesel.

The carbon tax increase planned for May has also been postponed until October - representing the first time Ministers have broached any disruption to the tax.

Separately packages have been agreed for the agriculture and haulage sectors.

Hauliers will be given between €200 and €1,200 per vehicle per month backdated to the 1st March

Coach and LocalLink operators will also have support payments through their contracts with the State.

It brings the total intervention from the Government to more than €750 million with the previously announced excise cuts extended until July.

That will be paid for through the general Government surplus, but Ministers have warned the interventions, combined with lower economic growth due to the war in the Middle East, may leave them less wiggle room to announce new measures in the budget.


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