asked the Minister Education why a pupil (name supplied) of Meánscoil Naomh Clár, An Cabhán, will not be allowed to sit for the intermediate certificate examination, 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intermediate Certificate Candidate.
26.
Mr. R. Burke
The rules and programme for secondary schools provide that to be eligible to be admitted to the intermediate certificate examination a pupil must not be less than 14 years of age on the 1st January of the year of the examination and have followed an approved course of not less than three years duration as a recognised pupil. The pupil in question had not reached 14 years of age on 1st January, 1975, and, moreover, will not have completed a three year approved course as a recognised pupil by the date of the examination. She cannot therefore be regarded as eligible for admission to the intermediate certificate examination in 1975.
Seeing that this is a regulation and not something statutory, would it not be possible for the Minister to allow this girl to sit for the examination? Her father died suddenly and it is more than likely that she will never be able to sit for the examination again.
Mr. R. Burke
I am aware of the compassionate grounds introduced by the Deputy and intimated to me by this colleague in that constituency, the Minister for Lands. I should like to point out to the Deputy that the rule has operated since the school year 1968-69 and was introduced following consultations with school associations as to the age at which pupils should be allowed to commence what is called post-primary education. If the Deputy will advance, in writing, further reasons why this should be done I will take a favourable look at it. However, I would have to depend on the agreement of such groups as the school associations to regard this as a separate incident, a separate case and not to take it as a precedent. If the Deputy gets in touch with me about it I will see what I can do.
I should like to thank the Minister and to tell him that I am not unaware of the difficulties that precedent-creating makes for administrators. I very much appreciate the Minister's reply.
Does the Minister not consider it is a bit unfair that, when a person approaches the Minister for Lands with a problem and does not get satisfaction there and subsequently approaches Deputy Wilson, it should be aired in the House?
This question is irrelevant.
I was in first.