Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2007
84 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of fees collected for the junior certificate examination and the leaving certificate examination for each of the years 2002 to 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33429/07]
View answerGenerally speaking, examination fees are increased each year in line with the consumer price index. The costs associated with the certificate examinations have been spiralling in recent years due to the introduction of new methods of assessment in various subjects and to continuing increases in special arrangements for students with special needs. I should point out that the income received from examination fees each year amount to only a fraction of the total cost to the taxpayer of running the examinations.
The Deputy may be aware that medical card holders, or candidates whose parents or guardians hold a current medical card, are exempt from payment of examination fees. It is estimated that approximately 30% of all examination candidates benefit under this scheme annually. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
Junior Certificate
2002: €2,960,301
2003: €3,062,772
2004: €3,363,147
2005: €3,589,773
2006: €3,726,812
Leaving Certificate
2002: €3,628,637
2003: €3,813,522
2004: €4,244,184
2005: €4,342,536
2006: €4,046,679
