I am taking Questions Nos. 11 and 24 together.
I have publicy expressed my concern about the impact of the examination fees on students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The outright abolition of examination fees would not focus relief on those most in need. It would also be expensive — costing more than £6 million per year.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul wrote to me last year advising that it had discontinued its practice of assisting with the payment of examination fees and recommending that fees be dispensed with altogether or means-tested.
At present my Department operates a number of measures aimed at alleviating hardship arising from the payment of these fees. A provision of £400,000 has been made available to schools in order that entry fees for the 1995 examinations may be waived or reduced in the case of those experiencing financial hardship.
There is an additional provision of £600,000 for reduced fees in the case of candidates who are repeating the leaving certificate. These candidates would normally be required to pay a higher fee than first-time candidates but where the candidate, parent or guardian, holds a medical card, the maximum fee payable is the fee payable by first-time candidates.
I have recently expressed my intention to review the possibility of abolishing examination fees in the case of disadvantaged pupils as resources become available to me. In line with this intention I have instructed my Department to examine the limitations of the existing arrangements for waiver so that improvements will be directed at those most in need.