The Children’s Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon has welcomed the decision to cancel the Leaving Certificate exams.

The State exams are being cancelled with students being given the option 'calculated grades' in their place.

Students that do not wish to accept the calculated grades will be able to sit the exams at a later date.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said this may happen in the autumn or "whenever it is safe" for the exams to be held.

He said students can decide to to accept the calculate grades for some subjects and sit future exams in others.

Dr Muldoon said: "Some 61,000 students have faced considerable uncertainty surrounding their exams over the past number of weeks and months and I am glad to see a final decision being made.

"I appreciate it was not an easy decision to make and many young people will be disappointed, but ultimately, I support today’s decision and believe it has been made in the best interest of young people throughout Ireland.

"It is up to us all now to support students in the alternative arrangements and ensure they go on to the next stage of their education, or the first stage of their working lives, with confidence."

The Children’s Ombudsman had called for clarity in early April and subsequently wrote to Minister McHugh on April 17th.

The minister met with Dr Muldoon on Wednesday to discuss the concerns.

Dr Muldoon said his office had received a large number of complaints, amid continuing uncertainty surrounding the exams.

He said there were a large number of complaints made by parents and students to his office over the past number of weeks.

These related to mental health concerns, special education needs, digital discrimination and inequity in the provision of continuity of learning.