Education Minister Norma Foley says the Leaving Cert results delay was necessary to ensure "all checks and balances" are in place.
She said she believes most people will accept "it is better to take the time to ensure the integrity of the process".
It was revealed last night that calculated grades will not be available until September 7th, three weeks later than normal.
First-round CAO offers will follow on September 11th.
Opposition parties have criticised the delay. with Labour's Aodhán Ó Ríordáin saying it's "absolutely unbelievable".
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Minister Foley said she understands that waiting for results is always an anxious time for students.
She said: "Perhaps this year more than other years, because we are in the middle of a pandemic, it has been [a more] anxious time for students.
"I have worked with students every day of my professional working life, so I know the difficulty and anxiety for students."
She said the reason for the delayed result is because it's "hugely important that every possible rigour was applied in the calculated grade process... that all checks and balances would be in place".
She said: "It's hugely important to me that the class of 2020 will know that the calculated grades will have the same integrity as the grades that have been received in previous years of the Leaving Cert.
"I appreciate that people may have worked themselves towards a particular date.
"But I do believe that in the round people will accept it is better to take the time to ensure the integrity of the process is maintained and sustained, and it is for that reason and no other reason that there's a slight delay on what would have been anticipated in previous years."
Minister Foley moved to "absolutely reassure" people that the turnaround time is "absolutely in line" with the timeline for the CAO.
However, she said issues around third-level start dates and the time available to new students to seek accommodation are matters for the institutions themselves.
She said: "Students are now going to know the date of the results... not withstanding that third-level institutions will be making their own arrangements as to when exactly students will take up their places."
