asked the Minister for Education if she will consider allowing a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is studying for her intermediate certificate examination, will not be fourteen years until 11 April 1983, and is an excellent pupil, to sit the examination; and if not, the reason.
Written Answers. - Permission to Sit for Examination.
565.
The rules governing the age of transfer to post-primary school and of entry to the certificate examinations were drawn up after consultation with the various interested bodies. The rules allow the Intermediate Certificate Examination to be taken at 14½ years and the Leaving Certificate Examination as early as 16½ years of age. It would not be in the best interests of pupils generally that exceptions such as that involved in this pupil's application should be made.