Plans for this year's Leaving Cert are set to be outlined today with a Cabinet sub-committee on Education set to meet today.
Students and teachers across the country have been calling for clarity around this year's examinations which remain up in the air due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Education Minister Norma Foley is expected to give a statement at some stage today.
The Teacher's Union of Ireland has been locked in intense talks with the Government regarding the return of schools and State Examinations.
Last years traditional exams were cancelled and students instead could opt into a calculated grades system.
That committee is chaired by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and is expected to briefed by the Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan on the risk assessment from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on new mutations associated with the UK variant, and how it could affect the return to school.
Minister Foley has signalled the aim of Government is to see a phased return of school from next month. No date has however been agreed and plans remain subject to the agreement of unions and public health advice.
Meanwhile further discussions are expected to take place today as Government seeks to agree a plan to establish a mandatory hotel quarantine system.
Pressure has been mounting on the Government to implement stricter rules on people travelling into the country over fear of importing new variants of the coronavirus.
It will be in place initially for those arriving in the State from 20 countries and anyone who does not have a negative test for Covid-19.
The details of the proposal are still being worked on but it is agreed that those who stay in mandatory quarantine for 14 days will have to pay for their stay and will take a number of tests for Covid-19 during that time.
