Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 7

Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Fees Refund.

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

199 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education the current position regarding an application for a refund of fees paid to sit the leaving certificate by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary while attending St. Joseph's College, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, County Tipperary and who, because of his expulsion from that school paid a second fee and sat the leaving certificate at the Vocational School, Thurles, County Tipperary in June 1991.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department does not have an application for a refund of fees in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy.

This candidate entered to sit the 1991 leaving certificate examination as a repeat student in St. Joseph's College, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, County Tipperary.

Repeat students are required to pay £100 course fee and £100 examination fee. The student paid the course fee but there is no provision for a refund of fees in the case of a pupil who does not complete the year's study. He left the school before the examination fee was due to be paid and he did not, in fact, pay that fee.

Having left St. Joseph's College he entered for the examination as an external candidate paying an examination entry fee of £139 i.e. £115 normal fee plus £24 late fee. He subsequently sat the examination in three subjects. Since he sat the examination a refund of the examination entry fee does not arise.

In the unusual circumstances of the case however a refund of the £24 late fee will be considered on receipt of a request for such a refund from the applicant.