Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 6

Written Answers. - State Examination Fees.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

109 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to fees charged to State examination candidates, he will outline (a) the proposed level of such fees in 1992, (b) the number of candidates in whose case such fees were waived in 1991, (c) the reason such fees exist in a system described as free post-primary education and (d) whether such fees should be removed since they are a disincentive to examination candidates and place a further financial barrier in the path of entry to third level education.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

In regard to (a), the fees applicable to the 1992 certificate examinations are as follows: leaving certificate, £40 and junior certificate, £37.

The "repeat" fees payable by candidates who attend school with a view to repeating the leaving certificate examination are as follows: for one subject, £40; for two subjects, £81 and for three or more subjects, £108.

In addition to the entry fee a course fee of £100 is also payable by repeat candidates.

The ordinary fees payable by external, (i.e. non-school), candidates for entry to the leaving certificate examination are as follows: £41 for one subject; £80 for two subjects and £115 for three or more subjects.

In regard to (b) where the parent or guardian of a school candidate repeating the examination is the holder of a current medical card only the ordinary fee payable by first-time candidates applies. In addition the course fee of £100 is waived.

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: £15 for one subject; £28 for two subjects, and £41 for three or more subjects.

In addition to the reliefs outlined for "repeat" and external leaving certificate candidates, my Department also implement a scheme to provide alleviation of fees in the case of any pupil attending school who is experiencing particular hardship. For this purpose a total of £360,000 has been allocated to recognised schools and vocational education committees in respect of the 1992 examinations. The amount of the reduction in the case of any individual pupil concerned under the scheme is determined at the discretion of the school authorities subject to the total amount of such deductions not exceeding the specified amount already notified to each school. As the amount of the reduction applied to individual pupils is determined by the school authority my Department do not have a figure for the number of candidates who may have had their fees waived in 1991.

In regard to (c) and (d) it is considered reasonable that people should be required to make a contribution towards the cost of providing the necessary resources for the conduct of the examinations, subject to alleviation in the case of hardship. It should be borne in mind that the amount collected in examination fees covers only part of the cost of running the certificate examinations.