Vol. 514 No. 2
124 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a lone parent whose gross income exceeds £200 cannot qualify for any relief on a repeat examination fee of £240; and if his attention has further been drawn to the hardship this causes, particularly where other family members are undertaking examinations. [3781/00]
This Government revised the scheme of exemption from the payment of examination fees and based it on the general medical services card scheme. Through quadrupling the funding available for fee alleviation we have ensured that 30 per cent of the entire student body does not have to pay any examination fees.
By relating the exemption to an existing means tested scheme my Department has ensured that those on lowest incomes benefit.
I believe this is a reasonable approach to adopt to ensure the maximum coverage.
