Vol. 467 No. 1
210 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the rules and regulations applying for students sitting their junior certificate and leaving certificate examinations who are unable to properly complete their examination by reason of illness or other unexpected occurrence; the consideration, if any, given to allowing such students to properly repeat the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12529/96]
In view of the many practical difficulties involved, it is not feasible to provide alternative examinations for candidates who miss their examinations because of illness or other circumstances. These difficulties include providing alternative question papers, setting a timetable which would meet the needs of all affected candidates, ensuring that deserving candidates, and only deserving candidates, would be allowed to avail of the alternative examinations, issuing the results in time to meet the requirements of third level colleges and providing for possible recheck applications.
Where candidates become ill during the course of the certificate examinations my Department is, of course, prepared to give them every consideration in order to help them to sit the examinations. Candidates who are ill often take their examinations in special rooms in the school or in hospital and, in exceptional circumstances, may take them at a later time than the scheduled time. Candidates may not, however, take the examinations on a date other than the scheduled date.
