I tabled this matter on the Adjournment to seek a guarantee from the Minister that the junior and leaving certificate examinations will not be jeopardised by the ongoing industrial dispute in the Department of Education, particularly in the examinations branch in Athlone. Before Christmas I received correspondence from personnel in the examinations branch in Athlone outlining their concerns about under staffing and the failure to implement the recommendations of the Price Waterhouse report on the proper organisation of the examinations system. That report was published as a result of the debacle in the arts examination in 1995. It is disgraceful that, given the serious consequences of that debacle, the recommendations of Price Waterhouse have not been implemented.
The Minister must outline his intentions in regard to this year's junior and leaving certificate examinations. There has already been serious disruption of the leaving certificate applied programme. It is disappointing that assessments due to take place on 1 February for the leaving certificate applied, an excellent programme designed for students for whom the curriculum does not suit, were cancelled because of the dispute by the PSEU in Athlone. Sample papers for the leaving certificate applied were sent out over a month late and students await news on the organisation and completion of their assessments prior to June.
Students on the leaving certificate applied programme have been treated appallingly. Because their number is small, they have not got the attention they deserve. I have received a considerable amount of correspondence from schools whose students will sit the leaving certificate applied articulating their disgust and frustration that the Department and the Minister, in particular, allowed this situation to continue without intervening to ensure a resolution of the dispute. The attitude seemed to be that because only 3,000 students were involved and not the full cohort of leaving certificate students, the dispute could sit on the back burner. The students concerned feel they were neglected and not given the attention they deserved.
The dispute has been ongoing since before Christmas. We are now approaching the end of March which is a critical time for the organisation of the junior and leaving certificate examinations. At this time additional hours are worked and staff are brought in on a short-term basis from outside the Department. Given the considerable delays in terms of the organisation of the examinations, I am concerned we may face serious organisational difficulties this year. Will the Minister state clearly her intention as regards resolving this dispute?
Apparently there is a conflict between the Department of Education and the Department of Finance in relation to a resolution of this dispute. This Minister and her advisers told staff they made representations to the Department of Finance on additional staffing in the examinations branch but that it is turning a deaf ear to their entreaties. I would appreciate if the Minister would elaborate on this point and outline what is happening as regards the appointment of additional staff in Athlone. I received correspondence from the Department, some of which was anonymous, but its detail showed it was from people who were informed, stating that morale is at an all time low in the Department of Education.
This Minister stands indicated on a poor industrial relations record. The staff situation in the Department is difficult. Staff are demoralised and believe nobody is looking after their interests. The ongoing failure to resolve the dispute with teachers about early retirement and so on under the PCW agreement is only now coming to a resolution, although management is not satisfied. This Minister seems to have a difficulty organising the industrial relations framework in her Department. This dispute is a further manifestation of that inability to manage the Department properly, efficiently and effectively. I plead with the Minister to guarantee that this dispute will not jeopardise the preparation and organisation of this year's State examination because students face enough stress and trauma without having to face uncertainty about their examinations.