Minister defends reintroduction of State exam fees

State Examinations Commission has notified schools that families will once again be required to pay €116 per Leaving Certificate candidate and €109 per Junior Cycle candidate

Hildegarde Naughton: 'I have to manage my budget within my constraints and we can't continue with free measures that came in during covid times.' File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton has defended the resumption of State exam fees, saying the covid-era waiver could not continue indefinitely.

Opposition politicians have roundly criticised the decision, after the State Examinations Commission (SEC) notified schools that families will once again be required to pay €116 per Leaving Certificate candidate and €109 per Junior Cycle candidate — the first time the fees have been charged since they were waived in 2020.