External Leaving Certificate candidates can now apply online again as a technical glitch on the website concerned has been corrected.

A spokesman for the State Examinations Commission (SEC), the organisation that runs examinations.ie, said when the services went live for non-school based candidates to sit their exams last Monday a technical issue arose.

He said the online application facility was taken offline as the organisation worked with its internet service provider on the problem.

“This has enabled the service to be restored this afternoon,” he said.

The spokesman said candidates would not be penalised for the non-availability of the service since Monday.

External candidates include students who are not recognised pupils of a post-primary school and those who will be 17 years old by July 31st this year. Last year, 2,743 external students sat the exams.

Applications opened on Monday and need to be received by the SEC by February 14th to avoid possible late fees of up to €52 per subject.

The SEC replaced the Department of Education and Skills, Examinations Branch in 2003 and is responsible for second-level examinations in the State.