Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Examinations Data.

Pat Lee

Question:

36 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Education the number of students who sat the leaving certificate for the years (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; and the fee charged per student for each of those years for sitting the examination.

Pat Lee

Question:

39 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Education the number of students who sat the junior certificate for the years (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; and the fee charged to students for sitting the examination.

Pat Lee

Question:

40 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Education whether there are circumstances where a student is unable to afford the fee for either junior certificate or the leaving certificate and is allowed sit the examination free of charge; and if the fee can be means tested.

Minister for Education (Mr. Davern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 39 and 40 together.

The junior certificate examination is being held for the first time this summer. It is replacing two junior cycle exams — the intermediate and day vocational (or group) certificate examinations.

The total numbers who sat the certificate examinations in the years referred to by the Deputy were as follows:

	1989	1990	1991
Leaving	58,435	60,074	61,333
Intermediate	61,278	58,244	60,395
Day Vocational (Group)	13,000	11,000	4,000

The ordinary fees payable by school candidates for entry to the certificate examinations were as follows:

	1989	1990	1991
	£	£	£
Leaving Certificate	35	36	37.50
Intermediate Certificate	32	33	34
Day Vocational (Group)	20	21	22

The "repeat" fees payable by candidates who attended school with a view to repeating the leaving certificate examination were as follows:

	1989	1990	1991
	£	£	£
For one subject	35	36	37.50
For two subjects	70	72	75
For three or more subjects	100	100	100

Where, however, the parent or guardian of a school candidate repeating the examination was the holder of a current medical card, only the ordinary fee payable by first-time candidates applied.

The ordinary fees payable by external, (i.e. non-school), candidates for entry to the leaving certificate examination were as follows:

	1989	1990	1991
	£	£	£
For one subject	37	39	41
For two subjects	74	77	80
For three or more subjects	106	111	115

The following reduced fees apply where an external candidate has not sat the examination previously; or has taken only one or two subjects previously; or is the holder of a current medical card or is dependent on a parent or guardian who is the holder of a current medical card:

	1989	1990	1991
	£	£	£
For one subject	12	13	14
For two subjects	24	25	26
For three or more subjects	35	36	37.50

In addition to the reliefs outlined for "repeat" and external leaving certificate candidates, my Department also implements a scheme to provide alleviation of fees in the case of any pupil attending school who is experiencing particular hardship. The amount of the reduction in the case of any individual pupil concerned under this scheme is determined at the discretion of the school authorities subject to the total amount of such deductions not exceeding the specified amount notified to each school. I should add that a candidate attending school with a view to repeating the leaving certificate and who was already due to pay a reduced fee arising from possession of a medical card, could have the fee further reduced under this scheme at the discretion of the school authority.

Pat Lee

Question:

37 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Education the number of students who sat the entrance examination for the National University of Ireland for the years (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; and the fees charged per student for each of those years for sitting the examination.

Pat Lee

Question:

38 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Education the number of students who purchased the matriculation certificate from the National University of Ireland for the years (a) 1989 (b) 1990 and (c) 1991; and the fee charged for the purchase of this certificate.

Minister for Education (Mr. Davern)

The following information has been furnished by the National University of Ireland in respect of their matriculation examinations.

(a) Numbers who sat for the matriculation examinations and fees charged for 1989, 1990 and 1991 and fees charged:

Year	Number	Fee
1989	13,580	£90
1990	13,714	£93
1991	12,290	£96

(b) Numbers who purchased the matriculation certificate in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and fees charged:

Year	Number	Fee
1989	2,600	£60
1990	2,900	£62
1991	3,100	£64