Changes to the Leaving Certificate will begin in 2025 following years of disruption as a result of Covid-19, Minister for Education Norma Foley has said.
However, Ms Foley said that nothing will change for students sitting the State exam this year.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, she said this year's students are the last cohort that did not have to take a Junior Certificate exam, she said.
"A very tapered and gradual return to normality is needed in terms of fairness," Ms Foley said.
"If we look at the achievement of students in 2019, compared to the concessions that they were given during Covid I think in the interest of fairness, in the interests of accuracy in an exam, it has to be done."
She highlighted that other jurisdictions have already returned "at full tilt" to the way exams were previously conducted.
Many people felt the 7% grade inflation was too high when it was introduced during the pandemic, Ms Foley said, adding that this rate is expected to fall to around 5.5% next year.
She said the Leaving Cert results will be released on Friday 23 August this year.
Ms Foley said she would engage with the State Examination Commission (SEC) to see when the Junior Certificate results might be released this year.
They will be able to make a clear adjudication when the Leaving Cert is completed, Ms Foley said.
The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) welcomed the "certainty" that confirmation of the Leaving Cert results date brings, but said every effort must be made to ensure fairness and equality for students.
In a statement, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie also welcomed confirmation that students would "continue to benefit" from the existing assessment adjustments next year.
He said that in terms of a gradual return to pre-pandemic outcomes, the process should be kept under "forensic review" and adjusted if needed to make sure no cohort of students was disadvantaged.
"The return to previous outcomes must be as gradual as it needs to be and the process must be underpinned by fairness and equity," Mr Gillespie said.
The Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) also welcomed "much needed clarity regarding results".
In a statement, the ISSU said more work is required on the dates to be announced with regards to UCAS/UNICAS applicants, as the dates still disadvantage them against their UK and EU counterparts, it said.
ISSU president Shari Irfan said: "Having the date for the Leaving Certificate results provides a sense of clarity for students who are already under pressure on all fronts.
"It is interesting to note that the date for results have only been moved up two days earlier compared to last year.
"Irish students applying to UCAS or UNICAS are continuously left behind compared to their UK and European Counterparts.
"We will persistently work with the minister to ensure an earlier release of results."
The Teachers' Union of Ireland has welcomed the certainty provided by the confirmation of the Leaving Cert date.
In a statement, the union also welcomed the "confirmation that students will continue to benefit from the existing assessment adjustments in 2025, such as greater choice of questions in examinations".
