asked the Minister for Finance if it is a fact that at the open competitive examination for writing assistants held on 23rd October, 1928, at the Convocation Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, no artificial lighting was provided, and if, as a result, about sixty candidates who attended that centre were seriously prejudiced by having the time allowed to work the last paper set in History and Geography curtailed by a period of about fifteen minutes; and, if so, whether reasonable allowance will be made in marking that particular paper, by way of compensation for this disadvantage, or what steps, if any, he proposes to take in this matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WRITING ASSISTANTS' EXAM.
No artificial light was provided in the examination hall on the day referred to in the question, because it was anticipated as the result of previous experience that there would be sufficient daylight to finish the examination in the time available. As the afternoon proved to be exceptionally dark, it was arranged by cutting out an interval of 15 minutes which would otherwise have been allowed between the papers set in the last two subjects of the day, to terminate the examination 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Although full light was not available towards the end of the period allowed for the last paper, the light was sufficient to enable the candidates to finish without difficulty, and the candidates themselves stated that they were able to finish their papers in the light available. The time allowed for the last paper was not curtailed, as suggested in the question, and no candidate has complained that she was unable to finish the paper for want of light. The Civil Service Commissioners inform me that, in the circumstances, they propose to deal with the papers of the candidates in question in the same way as those of candidates examined at other centres.