Laois students encouraged to use freephone helpline for Leaving Cert

The National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline will operate from Friday, August 23 to Saturday, August 31.

The Helpline (1800 265 165) is a free-phone service provided to Leaving Certificate students and their parents and guardians during the period when exam results become available. It will provide support and information relating to the results and on all pathways including CAO, apprenticeships, Further Education and Training (FET) and more. It will also be open to those who didn’t sit their leaving certificate in 2024 but need further information.

The Helpline is staffed by professional and experienced guidance counsellors who will deliver one-to- one support to parents and students. The guidance counsellors involved in the helpline are members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC). The National Parent and Student Leaving Cert Helpline is supported by the Department of Education, the National Parents’ Council, the Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU) and Trinity College Dublin.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “The National Parents and Students Helpline is an invaluable resource for students and their parents/guardians. This welcome resource runs from the release of the results to August 31 and affords students and their families the opportunity to speak to professional and experienced guidance counsellors, who can provide relevant information, reassurance and of course support about their current and future options. I would like to thank all those who support the delivery of the Helpline”.

President of The Institute of Guidance Counsellors, Catríona Rodgers, said: “On behalf of the IGC and our members who provide guidance across the lifespan, I would like to congratulate the students, and their families, who received their results today. The Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied is the first step on your pathway. Students have many options and opportunities in the Further Education and Training sector, National Tertiary Office, Higher Education and employment pathways. If you have any questions or are unsure of what’s next, please get in touch with the Helpline at 1800 265 165. Our guidance counsellors are here to help you”.

CEO of the National Parents Council, Áine Lynch said: “The NPC is again delighted to support the National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline. When results arrive, some students, can have more questions than answers regarding their next steps. The Helpline is a vital support for students and parents who have any questions or concerns when navigating the many pathways and options available. The guidance counsellors answering the helpline calls will be able to help students with the support of their parents make sense of their available opportunities.”

Jack McGinn, President of the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU), said: “The ISSU are delighted to collaborate in a partnership between the Department of Education, National Parents' Council (NPC), the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, funded by Trinity College Dublin to launch the National Parent and Students' Leaving Certificate Helpline. We understand that sometimes the results received may leave original doors closed and plans disordered. The helpline is staffed by qualified IGC guidance counsellors who can help students to find their path. We know this time of year is daunting to many and the helpline is in place to provide support and guidance to students.”

Professor Orla Sheils, Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer in Trinity College Dublin, said: “Trinity College Dublin is delighted to support the National Students and Parents Leaving Certificate Helpline this year. We recognise that it can be daunting for students after they receive their Leaving Certificate results, and they and their parents may have questions about the various options available to them. This Helpline has been set up to ensure that students and parents get the correct answers, and the right support to help them make the best decision for the next steps at this very exciting time.”

Guidance counsellors can provide information and support on a whole range of issues, for example, calculating CAO points, examination result rechecks, accepting an offer, failing a subject, repeating and viewing of scripts. Students and parents may also have questions relating to course information, preference order, no offer, further education and training options, apprenticeships, private colleges, UNICAS, UCAS, CAO, registration fees and gap years.

Those seeking support and information can contact the Helpline on 1800 265 165 and all queries will be dealt with in a professional and confidential manner.

This year, students will receive Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied results on August 23 

The opening hours of the National Parents and Students Leaving Cert Helpline 2023 are:
Friday 23 August
10am to 5pm
Saturday 24 August
10am – 5pm
Sunday 25 August
Closed
Monday 26 August
10am – 5pm
Tuesday 27 August
10am – 5pm
Wednesday 28 August Round 1 Offers
10am – 5pm
Thursday 29 August
10am – 5pm
Friday 30 August
10am – 5pm
Saturday 31 August
10am – 2pm