Vol. 448 No. 3
141 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of students who because of their dyslexic conditions applied for special concessions for the junior certificate and leaving certificate in 1995; the closing date for such applications; when she will inform the students of the outcome of these applications; and the plans, if any, she has to put an appeals mechanism in place for unsuccessful applicants. [2185/95]
A total of 619 junior certificate and 292 leaving certificate candidates have applied for special arrangements in the 1995 examinations because of specific learning difficulties.
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms was 30 November 1994.
It is intended to notify schools of decisions on applications for special arrangements in connection with the 1995 certificate examinations not later than 28 February 1995.
A circular will be issued to schools within the next week, advising them of the procedures for appealing.
Where a school wishes to appeal against the decision reached, the school should write to the Department before 21 March 1995, stating the basis for the appeal.
Appeals will be considered by a committee of five persons, consisting of two officers of my Department and three members from outside my Department, including the Chairperson. The Department personnel will not have been involved in making decisions on the original applications. The members of the committee will be appointed in the near future and their names will be published.
It is intended to issue results of appeals to schools not later than 21 April 1995.
