Vol. 476 No. 7
236 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, there are to extend the time given to students with disabilities to complete both second and third level examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7966/97]
237 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education whether the amount of time given to second and third level students with disabilities for examinations is deemed adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7967/97]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together.
Arrangements for the conduct of examinations in third level institutions are a matter for those institutions. I understand however that while those arrangements may vary, in general special provision is made in all third level institutions for students with disabilities sitting examinations. Each such student is dealt with on an individual basis with appropriate arrangements being made within practical limits.
The position in relation to second level students is that additional time is one of a range of special examination arrangements which may be approved in the case of candidates with disabilities. Additional time is approved where the candidate is visually impaired or where the Department is satisfied that the candidate needs the help of a scribe or is unable to make adequate use of mechanical aids for recording the answers.
When the scheme of special arrangements was revised some years ago, schools were informed that additional time of ten minutes per scheduled hour of each question paper could be approved in the circumstances which I have outlined. This provision would give a candidate an extra 30 minutes in the case of an examination which was scheduled for three hours. My Department's experience is that schools have found this amount of time adequate to meet the needs of candidates.
Additional time in excess of 10 minutes per scheduled hour of the question paper may be approved only in the most exceptional circumstances.
