A decision to defer some Leaving Cert exams being taken in 5th year has been approved by cabinet.
Students who start 5th year in September would have sat their English and Irish Paper One exams in 2024.
But the move was opposed by teacher and student representatives groups, and its introduction has now been delayed.
Education Minister Norma Foley denies the idea is fully off the table:
'We are taking the appropriate time which would allow further engagement and consideration by all considered and I have been very clear and this would be a process that would be born of engagement and consultation with everyone and indeed all the step that we have taken thus far have been a consequence of that. So we will take the time now.'