asked the Minister for Education why his Department delayed until 6th April, 1970 to notify schools that pupils entering the leaving certificate examination in 1970 would not have their successes reckoned for the purpose of the award of the leaving certificate if they had completed only one year of the course, having regard to the fact that at the time of notice such pupils had almost completed their studies for the examination in question; and if he will now amend the regulation in the interests of natural justice to entitle such pupils to be credited with appropriate successes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination.
31.
The rule under which candidates who had completed only one year of their course were admitted to the leaving certificate examination in 1970 states as follows:
Candidates admitted to the examination under this rule will not be eligible for the award of the leaving certificate but will be given a statement setting out the grades obtained in each of the subjects which they presented for examination.
Candidates admitted to the examination under this rule were in fact never allowed to reckon their successes for the purpose of the award of the leaving certificate. The circular letter issued by my Department on 6th April, 1970 did not alter the terms of the rule in relation to the 1970 examination and did not, therefore, affect in any way the expectations of candidates already entered for examination.
Therefore, no question of amending the terms of the circular letter arises.