The State Examinations Commission (SEC) is a statutory body established in 2003 under section 54 of the Education Act, 1998. The functions of the SEC are defined in the State Examinations Commission (Establishment) Order, 2003 and are to provide a high-quality state examinations and assessment system incorporating the highest standards of openness, fairness and accountability. As part of its remit the SEC is charged with collecting fees from candidates who undertake the state examinations each year. The examination fees are set by myself as Minister for Education & Skills and less than 15% of the cost of running of the state examinations is met each year from fees. The remainder is provided by the Exchequer. Candidates and/or their parents who hold medical cards are exempt from paying the examination entry fees.
Details of the fee income collected by the SEC is to be found in their Annual Reports which are published on their website www.examinations.ie. SEC has informed me that the fee income collected since 2007 is as follows:
2007 - €8.7 million
2008 - €9.1 million
2009 – €9.7 million
2010 - €9.2 million
2011 - €8.9 million
To date in 2012 - €9.1 million
Further information on the breakdown of the examination fees can be obtained directly from the State Examinations Commission.