Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Junior Certificate Examination.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

318 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science if the results of the junior certificate examination will be made available to schools before the commencement of the new term in September of each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/99]

John Bruton

Question:

322 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the junior certificate results will be provided before the start of the new school term in September in order that teachers and pupils will have time to plan their timetable schedules and subject choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11403/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 322 together.

The dates on which the results of the certificate examinations are issued are a function of the timing of the actual examinations and the time required for the marking of scripts and processing of the results. Schools are notified well in advance of the likely date of issue of the junior certificate results.

While my Department will continue to make every effort to issue results as early as possible it must be recognised that there are real constraints on making any significant improvement in respect of the junior certificate if the issue date in the case of the leaving certificate is not to be affected. Given that there is a finite pool of suitably qualified examiners my Department ensures that the number of examiners engaged in the leaving certificate marking process is adequate to enable the result deadlines to be met. This is possible because the later issue of junior certificate results provides some latitude in relation to providing additional time where necessary to the pool of examiners available for junior certificate marking. Ultimately the time required for the proper execution of the marking process is a direct function of the number of available examiners and the number of scripts to be examined.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that priority must be given to the issue of the leaving certificate results so as to ensure that the CAO college entry process executes in a timely manner.