Exam students affected by the Co Meath tragedy will have to sit exams in the normal way, the State Exams Commission (SEC) said yesterday.
Alternative arrangement have been made for some students in the area who were due to take practical and oral exams this week.
The commission will also allow those affected by the tragedy to have longer rest periods during exams, if necessary.
But the commission - the independent body which has run the exams since 2003 - says it can make no other concessions.
It says the timing of the exams will, inevitably, be less than ideal for some students. But the commission says it must be guided by the principle of equity and fairness for all examination candidates.
It has also ruled out any procedure whereby examiners are aware of the trauma suffered by individual students.
It says: "There is a need to apply uniform and objective criteria to the marking of candidates' examination work. At the examinations each candidate's work is marked according to the common marking scheme for the subject which is applied nationally. This is to provide equitable, consistent and fair treatment for all candidates. Examiners apply the marking scheme to the work actually produced at the examination and there is no provision to deviate from the national marking scheme."
The commission said it has already been in contact with the relevant schools "to see how we can assist the injured students and those who are traumatised as a result of this terrible event".
Every year the SEC makes arrangements to accommodate examination candidates who suffer bereavement, injury, illness or other trauma either before or during their examinations.
These arrangements include making alterations to the standard examination timetable, including the timetable for the oral and practical exams, and organising special sittings in venues such as hospitals. These special sittings will be available to those affected by this week's tragedy.
