Leaving Certificate results should come out, if at all possible, on the traditional dates in August.
That's according to Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, who says clarity is needed on the timetable.
Delays to the usual date of mid-August are likely because of an option for students to sit a second exam in July.
This will be available to those affected by COVID-19, bereavement or serious illness.
However it is reported that students may not know the date of their results before they start the exams on June 8th.
Minister Harris told Newstalk Breakfast the State Examinations Commission (SEC) should be giving more direction.
"If they can't give us clarity now, in terms of exactly when it's coming, they should give an indication - will it be the month of August, will it be September?
"And the second thing I'd say is they really need to try and get some results back - if at all possible - to the tradition of the end of August.
"It has a direct knock-on effect on students, it has a direct knock-on effect on families.
"My understanding, and I'm reading media speculation on this... is that the State Examinations Commission seem to want to wait for the first exams to start, so they can see how many students actually take the first exam - therefore how many mightn't need the second chance of doing it".
While Minister Harris says having a second option to sit the exams makes sense.
"I suppose the rationale behind this is that this year students are being given an option of having a second chance to sit the Leaving Cert if they get COVID.
"That's a good thing to do... however that has resulted in the State Examinations Commission saying that they're not ready to say when the Leaving Cert results will be out."
