Wednesday, 27 Jan 2021

Written Answers Nos. 423-441

Defence Forces Deployment

Questions (423)

Gerald Nash

Question:

423. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence if there are plans to deploy the Air Corps Casa aircraft in support of EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3789/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI, the UN mandated EU Naval mission in the eastern Mediterranean was launched on the 31st of March 2020. Its core task is the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya (through the use of aerial, satellite and maritime assets). As secondary tasks, the operation will contribute to the implementation of UN measures to prevent illicit export of petroleum from Libya, assist in the development of the Libyan Coast Guard & Navy in law enforcement tasks at sea and contribute to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks, in accordance with the applicable international law, including UNCLOS and UN Security Council Resolution 2240 (2015).

As of January 2021, Ireland has three members of the Defence Forces deployed to Operation IRINI. These personnel are deployed to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome in staff officer posts.

There are currently no plans to deploy Air Corps Casa aircraft in support of EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (424)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the specific funding streams available to local authorities to apply for; the amount that has been given by county; the amount awarded under each scheme in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4051/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Department of Defence does not provide specific funding streams to Local Authorities as such outside of the funding made available for Civil Defence from within the Defence Vote.

Civil Defence funding includes operational and discretionary grants payable to Local Authorities for the provision of Civil Defence services. Operational grants cover 70% of the running costs of Civil Defence annually with Local Authorities providing the remainder. Payment of the full grant is dependent on returns from Local Authorities confirming they have met the required 30% level of Civil Defence expenditure for the previous year. These grants are based on criteria set out in legislation and include a basic grant plus additional allowances based on area, population and employment of Civil Defence Officers. On application, other grants are also issued to the Local Authorities from time to time towards the purchase of vehicles and equipment and other miscellaneous costs incurred by Civil Defence Units. Payment of these additional grants is dependent on submission of Local Authority plans for Civil Defence under the 2012 Civil Defence Act. The current 3 year Local Authority Civil Defence plans cover the period 2020 to 2022.

My Department applied for and received funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2019 (€0.5 million) and 2020 (€1 million) to go towards the upgrading of the Civil Defence fleet of vehicles. This funding was used to provide new vehicles in Local Authority Civil Defence Units across the country. A further €1 million has been allocated from Dormant Accounts Fund for 2021 to further upgrade the fleet.

The total operational and other grants, including Dormant Accounts funding, paid to individual Local Authorities from the Defence Vote by Civil Defence from 2018 to 2020 are outlined in the table below.

Detail on 2021 funding will be available later this year.

Local Authority	2018	2019	2020
Carlow County Council	€52,113	€40,502	€87,515
Cavan County Council	€101,340	€104,133	€125,241
Clare County Council	€127,437	€140,204	€199,206
Cork City Council	€107,068	€79,093	€149,891
Cork County Council	€206,484	€222,553	€281,885
Donegal County Council	€122,541	€122,269	€163,387
Dublin City Council	€434,153	€435,237	€571,151
Galway County Council	€95,430	€145,691	€137,037
Kerry County Council	€118,263	€153,616	€157,114
Kildare County Council	€96,556	€99,686	€128,395
Kilkenny County Council	€54,768	€130,941	€139,787
Laois County Council	€140,905	€113,753	€129,986
Leitrim County Council	€74,750	€92,860	€119,079
Limerick City & County Council	€135,991	€166,104	€166,545
Longford County Council	€59,217	€85,104	€98,904
Louth County Council	€111,688	€107,189	€125,131
Mayo County Council	€93,861	€121,878	€130,988
Meath County Council	€155,699	€169,675	€195,065
Monaghan County Council	€83,254	€140,240	€149,237
Offaly County Council	€105,072	€73,001	€148,910
Roscommon County Council	€81,444	€98,114	€110,542
Sligo County Council	€97,135	€113,731	€127,309
Tipperary County Council	€137,451	€108,922	€234,220
Waterford City & County Council	€93,902	€159,212	€160,963
Westmeath County Council	€106,588	€107,218	€150,423
Wexford County Council	€106,171	€160,423	€147,656
Wicklow County Council	€98,125	€40,475	€198,741
Grand Total	€3,197,408	€3,531,822	€4,534,308

Defence Forces Recruitment

Questions (425)

John Brady

Question:

425. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if applicants to the Defence Forces are required to have full Irish citizenship. [4283/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

An applicant to the Defence Forces must either be a citizen of the State or be any other person who has a lawful entitlement to reside and work within the State for the period of time required for the purpose of any such appointment.

Defence Forces Data

Questions (426)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

426. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces Army Ranger Wing currently deployed in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Government and Dáil approval was received in June 2019 for the deployment of a contingent of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel, drawn primarily from the Army Ranger Wing, to participate in MINUSMA, the United Nations authorised operation in Mali.

MINUSMA was established on 25 April 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2100 to stabilise the country after the Tuareg rebellion (2012). The role of the mission is to ensure security, stabilisation and protection of civilians; supporting national political dialogue and reconciliation; and assisting the reestablishment of State authority, the rebuilding of the security sector, and the promotion and protection of human rights in Mali.

Currently, there are 2 officers deployed in MINUSMA Force Headquarters in Bamako and an additional 12 personnel, including members of the Army Ranger Wing, deployed with the German Armed Forces at Camp Castor in GAO, Mali. All deployed personnel are currently embedded with the larger German company and are carrying out assigned tasks in accordance with the mission mandate.

In addition to the UN mission, there are 20 members of the Permanent Defence Force currently serving with the EU training mission in Mali, (EUTM Mali). The Defence Forces first deployed to this mission in 2014, and their continued participation is kept under regular review.

The Department of Defence reviews the deployment of Defence Forces Personnel overseas on an ongoing basis. Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (427)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

427. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the budgetary analysis being carried out to plan for long Covid impacts in his Department and each State agency under the remit of his Department, in tabular form. [4482/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The extent and potential additional financial cost of ‘long COVID-19’ on this Department cannot be determined at this point. As an immediate priority, my Department is participating in various cross-Departmental groups to ensure that appropriate supports are available to personnel as required. My Department will continue to monitor the impact of ‘long COVID-19’ including any potential additional budgetary costs arising.

There are a range of measures in place across the Civil and Public Service to provide support to those who contract COVID-19 and these are published as part of the Guidance on working arrangements during COVID-19 for the Civil and Public Service and are available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The response across the Defence Organisation to the COVID-19 pandemic incurred additional costs of €15.4 million, on the Defence Vote, in 2020. These additional costs arose mainly from providing personnel and operational supports to the Health Service Executive and included transport, communication (ICT) and logistic costs.

Departmental Staff

Questions (428)

Holly Cairns

Question:

428. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Defence the absolute and relative number of persons with disabilities employed by his Department in each of the years 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020; if these persons are in full-time or part-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4522/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

In compliance with the Disability Act 2005, statistics on the number of staff working with a disability within my Department are compiled and submitted to the National Disability Authority annually. The figures are compiled retrospectively during the first quarter of each year in respect of the previous year. Therefore, the return for 2020 has not yet been made and is not included in the figures below.

As disability returns are anonymous, my Department cannot provide a breakdown on those working on a part or full-time basis. It should be noted that the Civil Service is a leader in the range of flexible working opportunities afforded to staff. Schemes such as the Shorter Working Year scheme and a variety of work-sharing patterns are available to support staff in the achievement of a good work life balance.

The following table outlines those who have self-declared a disability. However, it should be noted that there is no onus on a staff member to declare a disability.

		Total No. Employed	Total No. of Staff who self-declared a disability under the Disability Act 2005	Percentage with Disability
2019	Civil Servants	371	16	4.3%
2019	Civilian Employees	451	28	6.2%
2018	Civil Servants	355	15	4.2%
2018	Civilian Employees	431	29	6.7%
2017	Civil Servants	351	20	5.7%
2017	Civilian Employees	469	20	4.3%
2016	Civil Servants	371	20	5.4%
2016	Civilian Employees	487	21	4.3%
2015	Civil Servants	354	11	3.1%
2015	Civilian Employees	499	23	4.6%

In compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has undertaken, where practicable, to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. My Department continues to operate in a non-discriminatory environment in accordance with the Equality Acts and aims to ensure that the principles of employment equality are implemented in recruitment, promotion, training and work experience.

Recruitment to my Department is open to all applicants, and reasonable accommodation is afforded to those with a declared disability.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (429)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

429. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the number of State and semi-State board appointments that fall under the aegis of his Department made since this Government took office including the name of the board or agency and the remuneration level associated with the board position in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4549/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927, to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances, and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.

The 1927 Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners, of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non-military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

Since the formation of the Government in 2020, I have appointed an Army Medical Corps ordinary member to the Board, a position which does not carry remuneration.

State Bodies

Questions (430)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

430. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all State and semi-State boards that fall under the aegis of his Department; the level of remuneration being paid to each board member including chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4562/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.

The 1927 Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners, of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non-military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

Board Members	Current Remuneration Level
Chairperson	€7,619.00 per annum
Army Medical Corps Board Member	Nil
Civilian Medical Practitioner Board Member	€5,079.00 per annum

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (431)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

431. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the amount of funding allocated by his Department on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4754/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

My Department has allocated no funding to the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (432)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

432. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the amount of funding spent by his Department on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4765/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

My Department has had no spending on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic.

Residential Institutions

Questions (433)

Thomas Gould

Question:

433. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the location families of survivors of industrial schools can go to access files on their family members in cases in which the family member is deceased. [4299/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department holds an archive of files relating to Industrial and Reformatory School which consists of circa 500,000 records. The records relate solely to children who were committed to these schools following a court hearing. Children were also admitted to the schools in other ways, i.e. voluntary placements, placement by parent/s or guardians or placement by local Health Authorities.

In order to access the records where a person is deceased, relatives are required to submit photographic ID, a recent household bill or official correspondence, death certificate of the former resident and proof that the person making the application is the spouse or next-of-kin of the former resident in accordance with the Succession Act.

Applications for records can be made using the form at this link:

https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/FOI/Applications-by-Former-Residents-of-Industrial-Schools/foi_form_industrial.pdf

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (434)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

434. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the status of the project to bring specialised therapists into schools and preschools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4365/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

A demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services took place over the course of the 2018/19 school year.

The project was developed by the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive and managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education.

The purpose of the project was to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports by providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’. This innovative pilot complemented existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.

The project took place in the Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow.

75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools took part.

75 Pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project were included.

In total 150 settings participated in the demonstration project.

Children who require speech and language therapy services and who are not attending one of the pilot schools continued to access services from the Health Service Executive.

Children attending pilot schools and who received therapy supports from the HSE also continued to access such services. The in-school therapy model was designed to supplement, not to replace, existing services.

It was designed to provide for a clinical Speech and Language Therapy service delivery model of Specialist, Targeted and universal supports in line with best practice for pupils which will see them receiving supports along a continuum of provision depending on the extent or severity of needs of the child/pupil.

The project was evaluated over the course of the 2018/19 school year. This evaluation report has now been completed and is available at https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Demo-project-evaluation-fInal-for-web-upload.pdf

Although initially designed as a one year pilot, a Government decision of 12th February, 2019, in relation to the Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme, also agreed to the establishment of a pilot of a new School Inclusion Model for children with special educational and additional care needs involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region over the course of the 2019/20 school year.

The demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services continued, as part of the School Inclusion Model, over the course of the 2019/20 school year.

As all schools closed from 12th March, 2020, due to the COVID crisis, it was not possible to fully complete the pilot of the School Inclusion Model over the course of the 2019/20 school year.

In order to support the work of the HSE in responding to COVID, the Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists which had been assigned to the School Inclusion Model were recalled to the HSE from 12th March 2020, and continue to remain employed by the HSE.

Approval has been granted to the NCSE to directly recruit therapists to continue the Pilot of the School Inclusion Model, over the course of the 2020/21 school year, and recruitment of therapists is currently underway.

It was also announced that as part of the 2021 Budget measures, that funding is being made available next year to extent the School Inclusion Model (SIM), which includes therapy provision, to two other pilot areas in 2021.

School Facilities

Questions (435)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

435. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if funding will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Cork for essential works on its science facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3564/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I would like to inform the Deputy that Projects allocated funding under the 2020 Summer Works Scheme relate to applications submitted by schools under Category 2 (Roof Works) and Category 6 (Toilet Facilites), these works are intended to be carried out over Summer 2021.

Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, remaining applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that context, applications submitted for other works/categories, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (436)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

436. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education when teachers will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; the safeguards being put in place to ensure that teachers and pupils are safe when returning to the classroom setting given the elevated levels of Covid-19 in society; and the childcare arrangements for children of teachers who will return to school to teach children with additional needs. [3580/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

School communities have worked incredibly hard to operate safely under Covid-19. The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. NPHET remain of the view that schools are low risk environments but recognise there is a need to reduce societal activity and movement to curb the spread of the virus at this time.

Public Health has advised that schools are safe places for both students and adults because of the mitigation measures now in place in our schools. All schools are required to have in place a school COVID-19 Response Plan which contains the key mitigation measures for infection prevention control in schools. Public Health have reiterated that neither the variance of the disease nor the rate of transmission in the community change in anyway the mitigation measures required in schools. Schools have been supported by a funding package of €400m to put in place and maintain these key measures since August 2020. Public Health advice is that compliance with these measures ensure that school remain safe places for children and staff.

My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has provided detail on a number of childcare supports available for essential workers details of which are available at https://assets.gov.ie/118433/d8066e42-360a-4178-b8ff-ddc8cc750070.pdf. My Department has also published a leaflet and FAQs for parents in relation to childcare supports during this period of school closure.

My colleague the Minister for Health has advised of the vaccine protocol that has been agreed, which came from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and signed up by Government. It should be noted that teachers are in the top 35% of the population with regard to vaccination. The vaccine allocation groups are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (437)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

437. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3610/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that career break is a sanctioned, approved leave and therefore, pension entitlements are protected for the duration of the career break. The Career Break Scheme for teachers is contained in Circular 0054/2019 titled ”Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools."

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (438)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

438. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if a derogation on teaching requirements to retain pension entitlements following career breaks can be introduced during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3611/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that career break is a sanctioned, approved leave and therefore, pension entitlements are protected for the duration of the career break. The Career BreakScheme for teachers is contained in Circular 0054/2019 titled ”Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools."

School Enrolments

Questions (439, 448)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

439. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if the current and projected capacity of schools in south County Kildare, particularly in those areas experiencing continuous population growth such as Newbridge and Kildare, will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3612/21]

Patricia Ryan

Question:

448. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the action she will take to address the lack of school places in Newbridge, County Kildare; if there are plans to provide a new secondary school in Newbridge, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3755/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 448 together.

My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the school planning areas referred to by the Deputy.

Where capacity issues arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.

Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those in County Kildare, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action.

Under project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in County Kildare may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need, has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (Additional Accommodation Scheme) can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (440)

Richard Bruton

Question:

440. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education her plans to find a way to make up for the interruption to studies caused by the suspension of in-person education in schools. [3633/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The public health restrictions which resulted in the closure of schools in March 2020 highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. As a contingency measure against the possibility of partial or full school closures, my Department has provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to facilitate the continuity of learning in these circumstances. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

This documentation has been complemented by Circular 0074/2020 (Communication/Teaching & Learning Platform) which requires all schools to have in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure that they are prepared to continue to support teaching and learning in the event of a partial or full closure of schools arising from Public Health advice.

During the current period of school closure schools are required to put in place their plan of action to enable continuity of learning for all pupils. This involves all teachers who are medically fit to work, including SETs, providing remote teaching and learning to all pupils in their class or on their caseload.

It is crucially important that the learning of all pupils/students, especially those with special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage and/or early school leaving, are supported at this time. These supports include teachers engaging with their pupils/students on a regular basis, through a blend of guided and independent learnings tasks and experiences. Chosen learning tasks provide an opportunity to demonstrate a student’s learning in a clear and concise way. These learning tasks enable teachers to monitor progress and provide constructive, developmental feedback to support learning.

It is also important that there is two-way feedback between home and school. Teachers are required to ensure that work received is corrected and relevant feedback is provided. Special education teachers should continue to engage with pupils/students and class/subject teachers should differentiate teaching and learning in line with their pupils’/students’ needs to minimise disruption to their learning and progression.

Following a setback last week to the planned partial reopening of schools, the Department of Education is engaging closely with the education partners to work towards achieving consensus on a satisfactory way forward to ensure a safe phased return of children with special educational needs to in-school learning. This remains a high priority for all partners at this time.

State Examinations

Questions (441)

Seán Canney

Question:

441. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when results from leaving certificate exams sat in late 2020 will be released in view of the fact prospective medical students need to know the results by 3 February 2021 given that they may have to apply to sit the HPAT exam and further delays will incur further costs for these families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3641/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.