Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Delivery of Examination Results.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

30 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education if the results of the 1995 junior certificate could be made available by post to each examination student at his or her home, thereby ending the practice wherein the results are collected from the centres in which the examinations have been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2129/95]

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

40 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education if the results of the 1995 junior certificate will be made available by post to each examination student at his or her home, thereby ending the practice wherein results are collected from the centres in which the examinations have been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2605/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 40 together.

Because there would be a great risk of mistakes in sending out results to 65,000 individual addresses my Department has no plans to issue junior certificate results direct to students' homes for a number of reasons. While An Post can guarantee next-day delivery of the results to the 800 post-primary schools, they could not do so for delivery to students' homes. The leaving certificate results and the junior certificate results will therefore continue to be sent to schools for all school based candidates.

I would like to stress the positive role played by school principals and teachers in conveying the results directly to their students and the support which they provide to candidates who may be distressed by the results. Candidates who are disappointed can be reassured by the principal and teachers that there are options open to them, including applying for a recheck.

Up to now the results of the junior certificate have been issued on the second or third Wednesday in September. It is my intention that from September this year they will be issued on the preceding Monday. This will mean that schools will receive the results on a Tuesday, instead of a Thursday. Many teachers and parents have expressed concern to me that the receipt of the results at the beginning of the weekend contribute to unruly celebrations.

My Department is conducting a feasibility study on improving the technology to a point where examination results can issue earlier.