asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants who have applied to her Department for exemption from payment of a repeat leaving certificate examination fee; the number of medical card holders who applied; and the reason for the long delay in reaching a decision in each case.
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination Fee.
64.
Pupils who have sat the leaving certificate examination may be enrolled as recognised pupils to repeat the final year of the leaving certificate course in 1987-88 subject to the payment of a repeat course fee of £100 per pupil and a repeat examination fee of £100. Pupils whose parents or guardians are the holders of a current medical card are exempted from the payment of the course fee and are required to pay only the standard examination fee of £33. This provision has enabled an exemption to be given to approximatley 1,400 pupils.
Applications for exemption from the "repeat" fees were received in the case of pupils in a total of 70 schools. Replies have now issued in the vast majority of these cases explaining that in the present financial circumstances no further concessions can be made. There are 12 school cases still on hands involving some 50 pupils and I shall convey my decision on these to the school authorities shortly.