Leaving Cert students who suffer a bereavement will now be permitted to change the date of their exams.

If a pupil experiences the loss of a loved one during their Leaving Cert or in the lead-up period to the June exams, they now will be offered alternative dates. The news was announced this morning by the Minister for Education, Joe McHugh following a review regarding the support given to students who have been impacted by the death of a family member. This means that if bereavement occurs during exam time, the student can take three days away from exams and will be given the opportunity to sit them the following month. According to RTÉ, the new measures are in relation to the death of a close family member, described as a parent, stepparent, sibling, legal guardian, son, daughter, spouse or partner or grandparent. Last year, Rhona Butler lost her mother and had to sit an exam the following morning with further exams over the next few days. Rhona spoke to Ryan Tubridy on his RTÉ Radio show explaining how traumatic this was and the Minister for Education has praised her for bringing the matter to his attention. During the interview, Rhona said that she doesn't remeber anything from the day after her mum died when she had to attend her Business Studies exam. Rhona started her exams on June 6 and her mum passed away a week later following a battle with breast cancer. Thanks to the Tipperary native's words, future Leaving Cert students will now be given support at such a difficult time with Mr McHugh commenting today, ""we have a duty to take reasonable measures to support young people who suffer loss at such an important time for them".