State Examinations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (277, 278, 279, 280, 281)

Micheál Martin

Question:

276 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations which are severe and restrictive resulting in students who have previously secured waivers to support them in junior certificate examinations not being awarded the same level of support in their leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17756/12]

Micheál Martin

Question:

277 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who was refused a spelling and grammar waiver and whose appeal was refused. [17757/12]

Micheál Martin

Question:

278 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under the reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was refused a spelling waiver and appeal was refused. [17758/12]

Micheál Martin

Question:

279 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who was refused access to a reader, refused a spelling waiver and an appeal was refused. [17759/12]

Micheál Martin

Question:

280 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was refused access to a scribe and is pending appeal. [17760/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 280, inclusive, together.

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted, including the supervision of examinations.

In view of the above, I have forwarded the Deputy's queries to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to him.

I wish to inform the Deputy that in all cases where a school/parent or student is dissatisfied with any aspect of the SEC's decision in relation to an application for reasonable accommodations, they have access to an Independent Appeals Committee. All members of the Appeals Committee are drawn from outside the SEC. The remit of the Appeals Committee covers appeals against all elements of a decision taken by the SEC. All appeals are considered in light of the published principles.